Over 4000 lives lost in Road carnage in 2023 alone

By Moses Muli

Published: Jan.3,2024 12:40 AM(EAT)

The year 2024 has just began and the grim reality of the road accidents cannot be wished away a few Kenyans have already lost lives in 2024.

One can almost tell, based on existing data trend, that 4,000 souls will be no more, others will be left nursing injuries, children orphaned, many widowed. That’s sad, and quite unfortunate.According to data from the 2023 economic survey, 4,690 deaths were reported on our roads in 2022 as compared 4,579 in 2021.

Road accidents have caused immense pain to many families, leaving thousands of children orphaned and families deprived of their sole breadwinners. Many others left with lifelong injuries, forcing them to spend months and money in and out of hospitals.

The good Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission recently singled out corruption in traffic management as the main cause of traffic laws violations which have led to the increasing deaths of passengers from road accidents.

There are recommendations in place to restructure the current Traffic Police Unit into a modern Traffic Management Unit that relies on technology to control and manage traffic flow in the country.

This is fare – but not good enough. What we need is a positive behaviour change among motorists and pedestrians.

Anyone who has driven on our roads will tell you just how much some motorists have turned our roads into some sort of playground. Some motorists literally play on the road – not realising that lives are at stake.

Let’s drive carefully and responsibly – and stop speeding.