Thirty pedestrians have been arrested for crossing the Thika Superhighway at an undesignated point near the Allsops Footbridge interchange in Ruaraka, Nairobi, as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) steps up efforts to curb dangerous pedestrian crossings along busy roads.
The arrests were made during an ongoing enforcement operation targeting pedestrians who ignore designated footbridges and crossing points and instead walk directly across highways. NTSA said such crossings expose pedestrians to danger while also creating risks for motorists and interfering with the smooth movement of traffic.
“30 arrested at Allsops footbridge Ruaraka interchange along Thika superhighway,” NTSA said in a statement.
The authority has urged pedestrians to make use of footbridges and other approved crossing points, warning that choosing to cross roads at unmarked sections can put both pedestrians and other road users in danger.
“Crossing in undesignated areas not only endangers their lives but also puts other road users at risk and disrupts free flow of traffic,” NTSA said.
The latest arrests form part of a wider crackdown that began on July 20 and is being carried out by NTSA together with the National Police Service. The operation is focused on major highways and targets pedestrians who cross roads directly despite the availability of designated crossing facilities.
Hundreds of pedestrians have been arrested and taken to court since the campaign started.
On July 31, 2026, NTSA Assistant Director Brenda Sawe said 250 pedestrians had already been arrested since the start of the enforcement exercise.
Sawe said the operation was not only meant to enforce traffic laws but also to encourage pedestrians to change behaviour and help reduce deaths caused by road crashes.
“We are hoping that at the end of this exercise, we are going to achieve changing behaviour because this is an offence that is due to behaviour,” Sawe said.
Under traffic laws, pedestrians who wilfully obstruct the free flow of traffic may face a fine of between Sh500 and Sh5,000, or be arrested and prosecuted.
The crackdown comes against the backdrop of continued concerns over road deaths in the country, with pedestrians making up a large share of those killed in crashes.
NTSA has said pedestrians account for nearly 38% of people who die in road crashes in Kenya.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that 4,748 people died in road crashes in 2024, compared with 4,513 deaths recorded in 2023. The number of people injured also rose from 10,677 in 2023 to 11,937 in 2024.
Despite the enforcement drive, some pedestrians have raised concerns over the condition and accessibility of footbridges. They have cited insecurity, hawkers, poor maintenance, waste and the long staircases at some facilities as reasons for avoiding the structures.
NTSA has, however, maintained that pedestrians must use designated crossing points and avoid putting themselves and other road users at risk as the enforcement campaign continues along major highways.