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Road deaths hit 3,397 in nine months
Kenya has recorded 3,397 road crash deaths in the first nine months of 2025, new data from the National Transport and Safety Authority shows.
Kenya has recorded 3,397 road crash deaths in the first nine months of 2025, new data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) shows, underscoring the scale of the country’s road safety crisis.
The figure represents 28 more fatalities than the same period last year, with a total of 17,270 people affected by crashes—291 more than in 2024. Pedestrians accounted for the highest share of deaths at 1,285, followed by 858 motorcyclists, 568 passengers and 309 drivers.
The sharp rise in casualties has prompted the government to roll out a tough five-year National Road Safety Action Plan, which targets reckless drivers, accident hotspots and high-risk behaviours such as drink-driving.
“Another major risk behaviour is driving under the influence of alcohol. To address this challenge, the Traffic (Drink Driving) Regulations, 2025, have been developed,” the NTSA said in its strategy document.
The agency noted that fatal crashes are highly concentrated in the evenings, with 26 per cent of accidents in Nairobi (and 30 per cent nationwide) occurring between 7 pm and 10 pm—when reduced congestion, poor visibility, and alcohol consumption increase risks.
Key measures in the plan include automated speed checks using smart cameras, with on-the-spot fines for violations. There are also stricter standards for imported used vehicles from countries such as Japan, the UK, and UAE, automated driver testing to improve the quality of licensed motorists and new school transport regulations to safeguard children.
At the same time, the government has unveiled major road infrastructure projects expected to reduce fatalities, including the expansion of the Rironi–Mau Summit highway, dualling of the Kwa Jomvu–Mariakani road, upgrades along the Nyali–Mtwapa–Kilifi corridor and improvements to the Kitale–Morpus road linking Kenya to South Sudan.
Other safety upgrades are underway at known blackspots such as the Ngata Bridge in Nakuru, the Bonje area in Kilifi, and the Kisumu–Kakamega highway.
In Nairobi, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) is building 13 pedestrian footbridges along the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor on Outer Ring Road.
“Existing roads have been placed under performance-based maintenance contracts to ensure routine upkeep, including road signage, high-visibility lane markings, and safety fences,” NTSA said.
Transport officials say the strategy is designed not only to reduce fatalities but also to reshape Kenya’s approach to road safety by aligning infrastructure, regulation, and enforcement with changing road user behaviour.
