The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government (ICNG) through NTSA seeks to implement new reforms that are expected to help in reducing the number of road accidents in the country.
The ICNG Cabinet Secretary (CS), Dr. Fred Matiang’i has urged Public Service Vehicles (PSV) operators to work together with NTSA in implementing the new reforms in the industry.
“My ministry started the effort of looking at driving schools in the country and after reviewing the operating driving schools in the country, 322 which is about 51 percent of all the driving schools in the country could not pass the set out requirements. NTSA will have to close them and provide a new curriculum,” said Matiang’i.
Matiang’i added that his ministry is building a center where all PSV speeds would be recorded and monitored, and as such all PSVs should install speed governors that are readable from the center.
“We are going to put a departmental framework to change weighbridge management so as to clean up the mess in those places even if it means raining hell on those weighbridges and its management. We must change and it must be efficient and we must sort ourselves out,” asserted the CS.
“With schools closing, we have now entered the phase of the year between August and December when we usually have very serious challenges on our roads. I am urging the Inspector General of National Police Service Hillary Mutyambai and NTSA to enforce the law and Kenyans to follow the law,” added Matiang’i.
Speaking during the event, the NTSA Chairman, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Waweru said that NTSA analysis of fatalities shows that more pedestrians were losing their lives on the road.
In the financial year 2018/2019 for instance, 1, 250 pedestrians lost their lives on the road compared to 786 passengers, 633 motor cyclists, 280 passengers and 78 pedal cyclists. There are increasing cases of hit and run especially in Nairobi County, which is leading with 40 percent cases of pedestrian fatalities.
“As the lead Agency on safety, we have been implementing road safety programme initiatives which include mass awareness campaigns, development of legislation and ensuring compliance,” said Waweru.
He added that through collaborations with the Private Sector, International Organizations, Government Agencies and County Governments, they have developed a Road Safety Action Plan (2019-2023).
Implementation of this plan will help realize a reduction in road crash fatalities by 50 percent by 2030. This will be achieved through various intermediate activities, mostly through collaboration and coordination of sector players.
By Charles Kirundi/Shirim Mercy
