A horrific accident occurred last week when a Tahmeed bus and an oil tanker collided head-on in Busia in broad daylight. The bus caught fire and burnt to a shell. Thankfully, only two people died and five others were injured and taken to the hospital.

The situation was not so merciful just a few days earlier in the same week. A speeding matatu lost control and crashed near Katangi Market on the Kitui-Machakos Road. Ten people died and 30 were injured. In the same week, there were several “smaller” accidents.

Road carnage has now become part of Kenya’s daily news staple. Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) are now back to their old habits. It’s like Kenya has gone full circle. The discipline and all the gains that had been made under late Minister for Transport John Michuki have been wiped out!

Under Cabinet Secretary in charge of Transport, Kipchumba Murkomen, the no-nonsense National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is now a pale shadow of itself, completely defanged. In its previous life, when a serious accident that resulted in deaths was caused by a PSV, NTSA would immediately suspend the sacco that operated that vehicle, and all vehicles under that sacco would undergo mandatory retesting. The sacco would only be allowed back on the road after NTSA issued its vehicles with a clean bill of health.

The country’s roads have become a lottery. The PSV sector is back to its chaotic pre-Michuki era. Murkomen is missing in action, unseen and unheard. He has clearly surrendered Kenya to road carnage. Who will rescue Kenyans?

The key defining character of matatus and buses today is speed. These vehicles are driven in a maniacal manner. Speed governors have either been abandoned altogether, or have been disabled. For a bus to crash then burn tells you all you need to know about the speed it was travelling at.

Overloading of passengers and cargo are a matter of course, and they pass police roadblocks without flinching. Loud, blaring and disruptive music is now par for the course in the sector, while garish colours and lewd art adorns PSVs. Touting at bus stations is now a huge menace and major source of insecurity, while cartels are back in full flight. Once again, they’ve reinstated their vice-like grip on the sector.

Police bribery is no longer an issue of concern. Traffic police receive bribes the way they receive salaries – as an entitlement. Consequently, there is zero enforcement of traffic rules countrywide. There is a clear correlation with the exponential rise in spectacular accidents and police bribery. The rhetoric by Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome that he will crush corruption in the service has proved to be nothing but “hot air.” Bottom line, the PSV sector has gone completely rogue.

From recent history, it has been proved discipline on the roads can only be enforced when the minister in charge of transport takes it up as a personal crusade. The markers were all laid down by Michuki, but subsequent ministers have dropped the ball. Murkomen does not look like he even picked it up at all. Well, he has a form book he just needs to dust up if he wants to start doing his job!

President William Ruto can no longer ignore the road carnage. After all, it is the average Kenya who travels by public transport who catapulted him into office. It is the average Kenyan that is being pulverised by road carnage. For how long will the President allow this to go on while his government seemingly looks on idly by? He has continuously reminded Kenyans that the buck stops with him.

What is clear now is that Murkomen has proved himself completely incompetent in stopping the horrifying carnage on Kenyan roads. It is also clear that he has neither the intention of doing his job, nor resigning. The President has no choice. He must crack the whip! It is imperative that the minister gets his marching orders.

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