This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
Kenya's roads have become increasingly hazardous for pedestrians, with a 100% increase in crashes caused by walking or standing on the road between January and October this year compared to the previous year, according to the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA).
Stalled vehicles abandoned on the road saw a 111.1% jump to 19 cases between January and October 2019, making it the highest increase among causes of crashes.
While pedestrians have been accused of recklessly crossing the road at undesignated points, there has also been concern about the lack of safety facilities such as sidewalks, footbridges, and zebra crossings.
Most highways across the country lack footbridges, leaving pedestrians at risk of collision with vehicles. However, the government has recently stepped up the installation of footbridges on key roads, including the Nairobi-Thika thoroughfare, where two more facilities are set to be fitted, adding to the existing 18.
The NTSA has also been installing safety panels on major roads around the city, forcing jaywalkers to use designated areas for road crossing, including footbridges on busy roads.
Nairobi County has introduced a traffic lights system to give pedestrians more control on roads in Nairobi, but concerns remain about the lack of sidewalks.
For example, while facilities have been provided on some roads in Nairobi, spaces have been taken over by small traders, including motor vehicle garages and furniture shops, forcing pedestrians back onto the road.
Several countries rely on a twin strategy of safety features and hefty fines to improve pedestrian safety on their roads, including the use of facial-recognition technology and laser-equipped posts to deal with unauthorized use of the roads.
According to the NTSA, pedestrians' deaths in Kenya surged by 147 to 1,049 fatalities between January and October, with most highways lacking footbridges, leaving pedestrians at risk of collision with vehicles.
