For many years now road accidents in Kenya has been a serial killer taking down thousands of lives every year. Since Covid-19 begun in the year 2020, Kenya has lost on average 5,689 lives through the pandemic. In the year 2007/2008 post-election violence on average 1,300 lives were lost. Coincidentally, between 2020 and 2023(Covid era) on average 16, 685 lives have been lost through road accidents. Road accidents in the country have caused immense pain to many families, leaving children orphaned, others widowed and whole families deprived of their sole breadwinners, not to forget the thousands of others left with lifelong injuries that remind them of their near brush with death. According to data from the 2023 economic survey, 3709 lives were lost by December 2023, 4,690 deaths were reported on our roads in 2022 as compared 4,579 in 2021, presenting an increase of 111 fatalities and an increase of 2.4 percent. Further Statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) show that as of October 2023, the country reported 3,609 deaths marking an 8.9 per cent drop compared to 2022 where 3,936 fatalities were reported in the same period. This can be attributed to efforts being made by stakeholders to tame road carnage. NTSA estimates that 3,000 Kenyans die from road accidents every year – costing the country anywhere between 3-5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 83 percent of the fatalities were men, with individuals aged between 30-34 years being most at risk, thus robbing the country of a very productive age bracket. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) puts the figures much higher. Sadly, and clearly as the statistics from NTSA are showing, these numbers have been increasing every year. Many of the accidents occur over the weekends and holidays with the hours 5:00PM-8:00AM being considered as peak accident hours with drunk driving and carelessness being cited as some of the major causes of these accidents. The majority of these people who die in these accidents are vulnerable road users – pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists. In addition, nearly one-third of deaths are among passengers – many of whom are killed in unsafe forms of public transportation. As the country and the globe at large prepares for annual festivities in the month of December, cases of road accidents during this period have been noted to increase as a result of people travelling to different destinations to spend their holidays. Particularly, the increased activities on Kenyan roads during the month of December have been attributed to the high cases of accidents that are reported during the festive period, with many cases cited to happen as a result of reckless driving. Road Safety is both an individual and collective responsibility and each citizen should arise and play his/her role without pointing at the government or other institutions. We should build and embrace a culture of road safety by being disciplined and courteous and takin

1. www.ambstevembugua.co.ke Ambassador Of Safety Road Safety
KENYA ROAD ACCIDENTS 2023
For many years now road accidents in Kenya has been a serial killer taking down thousands of
lives every year. Since Covid-19 begun in the year 2020, Kenya has lost on average 5,689 lives
through the pandemic. In the year 2007/2008 post-election violence on average 1,300 lives were
lost. Coincidentally, between 2020 and 2023(Covid era) on average 16, 685 lives have been lost
through road accidents.
Road accidents in the country have caused immense pain to many families, leaving children
orphaned, others widowed and whole families deprived of their sole breadwinners, not to forget
the thousands of others left with lifelong injuries that remind them of their near brush with death.

2. www.ambstevembugua.co.ke Ambassador Of Safety Road Safety
According to data from the 2023 economic survey, 3709 lives were lost by December 2023, 4,690
deaths were reported on our roads in 2022 as compared 4,579 in 2021, presenting an increase of
111 fatalities and an increase of 2.4 percent.
Further Statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) show that as
of October 2023, the country reported 3,609 deaths marking an 8.9 per cent drop compared to 2022
where 3,936 fatalities were reported in the same period. This can be attributed to efforts being
made by stakeholders to tame road carnage.
NTSA estimates that 3,000 Kenyans die from road accidents every year – costing the country
anywhere between 3-5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 83 percent of the fatalities were
men, with individuals aged between 30-34 years being most at risk, thus robbing the country of a
very productive age bracket. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) puts the figures much
higher. Sadly, and clearly as the statistics from NTSA are showing, these numbers have been
increasing every year.
Many of the accidents occur over the weekends and holidays with the hours 5:00PM-8:00AM
being considered as peak accident hours with drunk driving and carelessness being cited as some
of the major causes of these accidents.
The majority of these people who die in these accidents are vulnerable road users – pedestrians,
motorcyclists, and cyclists. In addition, nearly one-third of deaths are among passengers – many
of whom are killed in unsafe forms of public transportation.
As the country and the globe at large prepares for annual festivities in the month of December,
cases of road accidents during this period have been noted to increase as a result of people
travelling to different destinations to spend their holidays.
Particularly, the increased activities on Kenyan roads during the month of December have been
attributed to the high cases of accidents that are reported during the festive period, with many cases
cited to happen as a result of reckless driving.
Road Safety is both an individual and collective responsibility and each citizen should arise and
play his/her role without pointing at the government or other institutions. We should build and
embrace a culture of road safety by being disciplined and courteous and taking into considerations
all road users. Be Resilient, Careful, Vigilant, Proactive, Responsible, Cautious, Alert, Awake and
Aware as a road user and always know that it all starts with Me/You/Us.
Let us join our hands to help build a culture of safety at all places, all the time.
#SafetyFirst #RoadSafety #SafetyCulture