Kenya has started 2026 with a worrying rise in road accidents. In the first three days of January alone, crashes killed at least 16 people.

Official figures from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) show that road deaths reached 4,458 in 2025, up from 4,311 the previous year. Pedestrians and passengers continue to suffer the most. These numbers underline serious problems in how the authorities manage road safety.

On Tuesday, January 6, the Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDDCA) issued a strong statement condemning the NTSA’s approach. LoDDCA represents long-haul drivers and conductors across the country.

The group says that NTSA’s joint operations on the roads are largely cosmetic. These roadside checks, intended to improve safety, have instead become opportunities for officers to extort money from drivers. LoDDCA says the heavy reliance on human enforcement allows corruption, selective law application, intimidation, and harassment.

“LoDDCA expresses grave concern over NTSA’s so-called cosmetic joint operations, which were intended to enhance road safety but have instead degenerated into extortion points and centers of victimization for drivers,” the association stated.

“These operations rely heavily on human enforcement, creating opportunities for corruption, selective application of the law, intimidation, and harassment. Rather than preventing crashes, they have worsened compliance, eroded trust, and aggravated the already fragile transport ecosystem.”

The association argues that the joint operations fail to prevent accidents. Rather than increasing compliance, they reduce drivers’ trust in the authorities and worsen the challenges facing the transport sector. Drivers report repeated breaches of labour laws by transport firms.

“Despite repeated engagements with NTSA on abuse of labour laws by some transport companies particularly excessive working hours, unsafe working conditions, and exploitative operational demands no tangible action has been taken.”

These include extremely long working hours – sometimes exceeding 18 hours a day – unsafe vehicles, and harsh working conditions. LoDDCA says NTSA has not taken real action despite repeated discussions, leaving drivers, their crews, and other road users at risk.

Tech enforcement

LoDDCA is calling for a shift towards technology-based enforcement. The group wants more road surveillance cameras and fewer officers on the highways. International examples show that automated systems reduce corruption and improve road safety. However, the association says the authorities have largely ignored these proposals.

The group also criticised the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Transport for failing to enforce worker protections. LoDDCA says these ministries allow unsafe practices to continue and unfairly blame drivers for accidents caused by systemic issues.

LoDDCA demands immediate reforms: end the ineffective and exploitative joint operations, engage stakeholders in meaningful dialogue, enforce labour laws in the transport sector, and adopt technology-driven safety measures.

The association stresses that road safety needs real solutions, not intimidation or excuses. Without change, Kenya will continue to see preventable deaths on its roads. LoDDCA says it will continue to push for dialogue but refuses to stay silent while drivers face unfair treatment and public safety remains at risk.