This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
Published on October 4, 2019, nearly 10 months have passed since President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) off the roads, handing that key responsibility back to the traffic police.
However, road safety has not seen significant improvement, with NTSA data showing a 15% increase in road accident deaths in the past 12 months, from 2,021 last year to 2,326 between January and October.
The President had hoped that with the NTSA concentrating on policymaking, the police would enhance monitoring and control to curb accidents.
But the police service's endemic corruption undermines efforts to make the roads safer, and the NTSA's recent collaboration with the police in a crackdown on errant motorists has raised hopes for a change in approach.
Reports indicate that the Interior ministry has directed the NTSA to join traffic police in the effort, although the NTSA has denied this.
Efforts to curb the slaughter on our roads should be supported, but their roles should be streamlined to avoid duplication and wastage of resources.
