The National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) has announced a sweeping multi-agency crackdown aimed at reducing road carnage during the festive season, following a sharp rise in traffic-related deaths across the country.
In a communiqué issued after a Special Council Meeting in Nairobi, NCAJ said fatalities from road accidents increased from 4,479 in 2024 to 4,682 in 2025, representing a five percent rise.
The council warned that the festive season typically sees increased road usage, congestion and accidents, heightening the risk to motorists, pedestrians and passengers.
“We underscore the urgent and continuous need to enhance public safety, uphold the rule of law, and ensure effective traffic management during the festive season and beyond,” the council said.
It noted that road crashes continue to pose “a significant public safety and security challenge,” straining the healthcare system, destroying livelihoods and disrupting the movement of people and goods.
NCAJ attributed most accidents to risky road behaviour, including speeding, fatigue, overlapping, drunk driving and non-compliance with traffic laws. The council also condoled families who have lost loved ones in road crashes, describing the loss of life as largely preventable.
To address the crisis, the justice sector resolved to roll out coordinated enforcement measures involving the National Police Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the Kenya Prisons Service, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
“Addressing road carnage is not a responsibility of one agency but a collective commitment by all Kenyans,” the communiqué stated.
Among the key measures is the deployment of mobile courts and enhanced joint enforcement, particularly along high-risk corridors, to handle traffic offences swiftly.
NCAJ said this will involve both physical and electronic enforcement tools as a deterrent, while ensuring suspects who require legal representation are given access to advocates.
The council also announced increased deployment of roadblocks to intensify inspection of vehicles and motorbikes. Motorists were urged to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before travelling, with particular attention to be paid to motorbike operators who violate traffic laws.
In a move aimed at tackling corruption, NCAJ said EACC officers will be deployed along major highways to monitor traffic enforcement and deter bribery.
“Kenyans are urged not to pay a bribe whenever they are arrested for violating traffic laws and regulations,” the council said, adding that human rights compliance will also be monitored.
Public sensitisation will be stepped up through collaboration with the media, civil society, faith-based organisations and the private sector. The health sector has been encouraged to place ambulances on standby for rapid emergency response, while long-term legal, policy and administrative reforms on traffic offences will continue.
The communiqué was issued on December 15, 2025, by Chief Justice Martha Koome, in her capacity as Chairperson of the National Council on the Administration of Justice, as authorities brace for heavy holiday travel and renewed efforts to save lives on Kenyan roads.
