Kenya Red Cross urges road safety ahead of Road Victims Remembrance Day
By Faith Lagat, November 10, 2025As the world prepares to observe the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR 2025) on November 16, the Kenya Red Cross is intensifying efforts to tackle the country’s escalating road safety crisis.
With road fatalities rising 10% annually to 2,933 deaths from January to August 2025, the organisation is urging all road users to prioritise safety.
Ahead of the global remembrance day, the Red Cross will host a webinar on November 12 featuring experts from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Red Cross to discuss road safety measures.
The organisation emphasised, “Let us slow down to save lives. Join the conversation,” highlighting its commitment to reducing preventable deaths through education and advocacy.
Government and stakeholder initiatives
Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programs Geoffrey Ruku underlined government efforts to enhance emergency response along transport corridors, announcing a Ksh 350 million investment for a modern hospital in Emali.
He cited 4,748 road deaths in 2024, averaging 13 per day, and highlighted partnerships with St. John Ambulance’s trauma centers. Road Safety Association of Kenya Chairman David Kiarie raised concerns over bogus driving licenses contributing to rising fatalities, calling for stricter enforcement and transparent leadership.
“Kenya cannot pledge to reduce road deaths while actually presiding over their increase. Families are grieving, and the country’s economy is hurting. We need focused strategies, transparent leadership, and practical fixes on the ground,” he stated.
Matatu Owners Association (MOA) President Albert Karakacha accused traffic police officers of fueling the rising number of road safety violations through rampant bribery.
In a TV interview on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Karakacha said police, who are mandated to enforce traffic laws daily, have abandoned their duties in exchange for illicit payments amid a worrying surge in road accidents across the country.
Calls for responsibility among drivers and passengers
Nairobi City County Woman Representative Esther Passaris has also warned of increasing road accidents, especially as the festive season approaches.
She urged drivers and passengers alike to take responsibility, stating, “Every single day, we have road accidents. It is time we accept it is a collective responsibility. How do you carry passengers who trust you and pay you to get them safely from point A to point B, yet you drive an unserviced vehicle, ignore traffic rules, or gamble with lives on the road?”
She reflected on recent tragedies, including a September crash on the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway that claimed 14 lives and a PSV accident in Waruku, Nairobi, injuring at least 30 passengers. Passaris stressed the importance of alertness, saying, “Everyone who enters a car wants to arrive alive. Drivers must take responsibility. But so should passengers.”