The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive safety audit on six major highways across the country.
The initiative aims to identify the root causes of accidents and recommend mitigation measures to reduce fatalities and improve road safety.
The audit was revealed in a tender proposal seeking consultancy services for the project. The six highways slated for inspection include:
- Gilgil – Nyahururu – Rumuruti – Maralal Road (220 km)
- Eldoret – Iten – Kabarnet – Marigat Road (133 km)
- Muhoroni – Fort Tenan – Londiani Road (63 km)
- Sori – Ndhiwa – Rangwe – Oyugis Road (79 km)
- Kenol – Murang’a – Sagana – Kagio – Kianjiru Road (65 km)
- Makutano – Machakos – Masii – Kyua – Syongila Road (109 km)
The audit will involve collecting and analyzing traffic crash data from the past five years, sourced from traffic police records. This data will be used to identify accident blackspots, assess the frequency of crashes, and categorize injuries and fatalities by road user type.
According to the tender document, the analysis will inform actionable safety recommendations aimed at mitigating identified risks and enhancing overall road safety. Additionally, the findings will guide the redesign of the roads to meet suitable standards.
This move by KeNHA comes amid a surge in road accidents, which have had significant economic and social impacts on households. Recent data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) reveals that 4,748 people lost their lives in road accidents last year, marking an increase of 424 deaths compared to 2023.
In response to the rising fatalities, the Transport Ministry recently launched the 2024–2028 Road Safety Action Plan, which will be implemented nationwide. Key strategies in the plan include improving pedestrian walkways, ensuring clear road markings, and installing adequate signage.
The safety audit aligns with the government’s broader efforts to curb road accidents and create safer travel corridors for all road users. KeNHA’s initiative underscores the urgent need for data-driven interventions to address the growing crisis on Kenya’s highways.
