A renewed crackdown on unsafe road crossing has seen 22 pedestrians arraigned in court after they were accused of obstructing traffic by failing to use the Allsops footbridge, as the government steps up efforts to curb the growing number of deaths and injuries on Kenyan roads.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) said the operation was conducted jointly with the National Police Service (NPS) and Nairobi City County as part of an ongoing campaign to improve road safety. Besides enforcement, the Authority said it will continue educating members of the public on safe road use to encourage better compliance among pedestrians.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NTSA said pedestrian safety remains one of the country’s biggest road safety concerns, with pedestrians accounting for 38 per cent of all road traffic crashes recorded by June 30, 2026.
“The Authority in collaboration with NPS and the Nairobi City County will continue educating pedestrians on safe road use,” NTSA said.
The Authority said reducing pedestrian deaths requires every road user to play their part, adding that those on foot have a duty to follow traffic rules meant to keep them safe.
“As the primary road users, pedestrian compliance is vital. Pedestrians must commit to using available footbridges and designated crossings at all times,” the Authority said.
Under Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) regulations, pedestrians who ignore footbridges and cross roads directly beneath them are liable to fines of between Sh500 and Sh5,000.
The latest enforcement comes at a time when concern is growing over the rising number of crashes involving vulnerable road users across the country.
Recent figures show that pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists make up more than half of all road traffic fatalities in Kenya. The data also shows that men are nearly three times more likely than women to lose their lives in road crashes.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), road crashes claimed 4,748 lives in 2024, compared to 4,513 deaths recorded in 2023, marking a 5.2 per cent increase. The number of people injured also rose from 10,677 cases in 2023 to 11,937 in 2024, representing an 11.8 per cent increase.
The road safety challenge extends beyond Kenya. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 1.16 million people die every year in road traffic crashes across the world, while between 20 million and 50 million others suffer injuries, many of which result in permanent disability.
According to WHO, road traffic injuries remain the leading cause of death among children, teenagers and young adults aged between five and 29 years. The organisation also notes that more than 90 per cent of road crash deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, even though those countries account for only about 60 per cent of the world’s vehicles.
Authorities say stronger enforcement of traffic laws, safer road infrastructure and greater public compliance with road safety rules will be key to cutting the number of preventable deaths and injuries on Kenya’s roads.