Why is it that there are road accidents every other week in Kenya? Is the government really serious about road safety? These are just some of the questions at the back of the mind for many Kenyans.
Today morning at around 4 am, four people died after the saloon vehicle they were traveling in hit a lorry at Kibirigwi along the Sagana-Karatina Road in Kirinyaga County.
According to Ndia OCPD Sicily Gatiti, the relatives of the four from Umbui village in Baricho said that those in the saloon vehicle were heading to Kitale for a dowry ceremony when they rammed into the lorry. The sole survivor of the crash is currently receiving treatment at Jamii hospital in Karatina.
This year in July, another three people died when the motorcycle they were on was involved in an accident at Karima area on the Sagana-Karatina road. According to the Mwea West OCPD Joseph Matiko, the rider collided with an oncoming private car while trying to overtake a lorry.
About three years ago, eight people were killed when a lorry heading to Nairobi ferrying over 150 goats lost control and hit two other lorries on the Karatina-Sagana highway. Kirinyaga county commander Rono Bunei said seven passengers died on the spot while one died on arrival at the hospital.
The accidents on the Kenyan roads continue to trouble many Kenyans even after the government announced the return of the dreaded public transport regulations, popularly known as the Michuki Rules, to tame rogue matatu drivers in the wake of concerns over increasing road accidents.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia and his Interior Counterpart Fred Matiang’i promised that the Michuki rules would be enforced with more ruthlessness and discipline.
Public service vehicles will have to be fitted with speed governors, safety belts and painted with a yellow line. Similarly, all PSV drivers and conductors will be required to wear uniforms and badges and prominently display their photos in the vehicles.
Road accidents have been on the rise this year and have killed 8,000 people in the last three years.
Do you think the Michuki rules are enough to end the menace on our roads?