NAIROBI, Kenya- National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has issued a sharp call for action from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) after a grisly road accident near Dedan Kimathi University of Technology along the Nyeri–Nyahururu Highway claimed 15 lives, reigniting concern over road safety across Kenya.
In a statement shared on his official social media platforms, Wetang’ula said he was “devastated” by the tragedy involving a matatu and a lorry and reiterated his condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Nyeri County.
He urged all road users to strictly observe traffic regulations and exercise caution to prevent further loss of lives.
But the Speaker’s message went beyond sympathy, directly challenging NTSA to tighten road safety enforcement and ensure that transport regulations are adhered to nationwide.
Wetang’ula called on the authority to scrutinise the status of vehicles, assess the professionalism of drivers, and sharpen oversight of public transport operations, measures he argued are essential to avert recurring carnage on Kenyan roads.
Kenyan roads have long been flagged as dangerous, with many accidents occurring along busy routes where heavy commercial vehicles mix with passenger transport.
Sections of the Nyeri–Nyahururu Highway are recognised as accident black spots, where factors such as road condition, vehicle standards and driver behaviour elevate risks for motorists.
Data from NTSA shows that road fatalities remain high across the country, with authorities reporting that an average of at least 13 people are killed on Kenyan roads every day, underscoring the urgency for stronger enforcement and preventive measures.
Wetang’ula’s intervention aligns with mounting public frustration over persistent road crashes and perceived weaknesses in implementation of traffic laws and vehicle inspections.
His appeal to NTSA reflects a broader demand for the agency to move beyond periodic warnings and take decisive, consistent actions to uphold safety standards, inspect commercial fleets, and hold errant drivers accountable.
As investigations into the Nyeri crash continue, calls for structural and regulatory reforms are intensifying, with many Kenyans looking to NTSA and other authorities to transform concern into concrete action that protects lives on the nation’s roads.
