Government spokesman Oguna urges caution on roads during festivities

Motorists in the country have been urged to exercise caution during the festive season, to avert accidents on the road by complying with the stipulated speed limits.

Government spokesman Col (rtd) Cyrus Oguna yesterday expressed concern as it emerged that more people have died this year than last year in road accidents.

He spoke at Total Junction on the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway, where he engaged residents through safety campaigns aimed at curbing careless and drunk driving which lead to accidents.

“Some 4,347 people have lost their lives since January this year to date. Last year we lost 3,707 people during the same period.

This is a great loss as the numbers have increased by 640,” said Oguna.

Oguna noted that careless use of roads had led to an increase in fatalities, at a time when the government is tarmacking more kilometres of roads to open up the country.

He singled out private vehicles as leading in the fatalities, noting that this points to carelessness.

“In the year, we lost 1,094 private vehicle drivers who would be expected to be even more cautious.

It is worrying that they exceed the number of boda boda riders who died; which stands at 1,092,” said Oguna. 

Traffic rules

He regretted that the number of deaths of bodaboda operators had increased by 165, compared to last year’s statistics, with a majority of them below the age of 30. 

On his part, the National Transport And Safety Authority Nakuru Regional Manager Joseph Gichohi pointed out that a majority of the boda boda riders, were yet to comply with traffic rules especially on acquiring driving licences.