NAIROBI, Kenya- The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) wants road crashes declared a national disaster, warning that about 20,000 crashes claim more than 5,000 lives in Kenya each year.
The authority says the annual toll is destroying families, straining the health system and reducing economic productivity.
Its proposal seeks urgent government action, dedicated funding and coordinated enforcement across public agencies.
“Such a declaration would enable whole-of-government coordination under clear accountability, and enforce measurable targets,” NTSA said in a statement.
The authority wants road agencies, the National Police Service, the health sector and county governments to work under a coordinated framework.
It said its goal was to reduce deaths and serious injuries and protect Kenya’s human capital.
“Road safety is not just a transport issue; it is a national development and security priority,” the statement said.
Appeal follows fatal highway crash
NTSA’s appeal came after a fatal collision at Kanga near Mtito Andei on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway on Sunday.
A bus and a lorry collided, with reports putting the death toll between 22 and 24 as information changed.
The cause remained under investigation, though preliminary findings pointed to a head-on collision and possible improper overtaking.
The crash occurred three weeks after 17 people died in a separate collision near Salama, also on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
NTSA’s statement is a proposal to the government; it did not announce that road crashes had been declared a national disaster.
It argues that the designation would help mobilise resources and set measurable responsibilities across agencies.
The authority said coordinated action was needed to reduce fatalities, serious injuries and the wider impact of road crashes on families and public services.
