Road crash deaths in Kenya have climbed past 4,100 this year, prompting the National Transport and Safety Authority to introduce new measures aimed at reducing the rising number of victims, especially with the festive travel season beginning soon.
The agency says the figures are worrying and require stronger action to protect road users.
During the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, acting NTSA Director General Angela Wanjira said the authority has already started putting new steps in place to identify dangerous drivers and improve road discipline.
“Among the measures we will set to undertake going forward is subjecting drivers who were flagged through enforcement initiatives and the NTSA Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS) to mandatory re-testing to confirm their competency on the road,” she said.
The IRSMS platform, launched in 2023, keeps track of public service and commercial vehicles by recording actions such as speeding, heavy braking, route changes and how drivers react on the road. It sends alerts when a vehicle breaks the rules, helping NTSA trace drivers who repeatedly ignore safety instructions.
Wanjira noted that the authority will now ensure all vehicles send their data to the system in real time, allowing continuous tracking throughout the holiday period. Drivers who go against safety requirements may have their licences suspended until they undergo proper evaluation.
The authority also plans to grow the Usalama Barabarani programme, which targets issues like proper seat belt use, managing long driving hours and encouraging safe behaviour on the road. NTSA teams will carry out inspection clinics at major bus parks ahead of the December travel peak and work with police officers on joint operations meant to reduce crashes.
“Each loss on our roads represents more than a statistic. Families and communities bear the trauma, grief and financial hardships that come with every death or serious injury,” Wanjira said, adding that the authority is committed to cutting deaths by half by the year 2030.
According to NTSA records, 21,042 people were involved in road crashes between January 1 and November 13, 2025. Out of these, 4,195 lost their lives, rising from 4,077 during a similar period last year. The data also shows 6,959 slight injuries and 8,888 serious injuries.
Pedestrians remain the most affected group, recording 1,580 deaths. Other fatalities include 376 drivers, 681 passengers, 62 pedal cyclists, 411 pillion passengers and 1,085 motorcyclists. Motorcyclist deaths increased by 9.15 per cent, while pillion passenger deaths rose by 15 per cent.
The counties with the highest number of deaths recorded by October 31 include Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Machakos, Murang’a, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, Makueni, Narok and Meru.
The authority has further cautioned women against sitting sideways on motorcycles, saying the position increases the chances of falling and suffering severe injuries.
“Should someone interfere with the CG, the machine can fall. When riding a motorcycle, weight should be equally distributed,” South Nyanza NTSA Manager Adan Adow said.
He added that passengers who sit properly behind the rider help stabilise the motorcycle.
“When an emergency brake is applied, a passenger on a motorcycle is likely to lose balance and fall either backwards or forwards,” Adow said.
He also warned that clothing can easily get trapped in the wheels when passengers sit sideways. He encouraged road users to be more alert and responsible.
“Safer roads start with you. Always be careful and exercise self-control,” he said.
During the event, NTSA teams also educated government workers on traffic laws and pointed out unsafe habits such as placing children on steering wheels and using mobile phones while driving.
The authority is also partnering with the Kenya National Highways Authority and Go Beyond Limited to create more awareness about the link between mental well-being and road behaviour.
“Human factors play a major role in traffic accidents. It is not just the road design, as some people might think,” KeNHA Nyanza Regional Director Julius Mak’Oderoh said, noting that distracted or mentally troubled drivers make up a large share of crash cases.
