Motorists Association: Govt agencies only speak up after accidents
By Kiprono Keileb, August 12, 2025As Kenya grapples with a surge in deadly road accidents claiming innocent lives, the Motorists Association of Kenya has strongly condemned the government agencies responsible for road safety, accusing them of only reacting when tragedy strikes.
In a pointed statement posted on an X account on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the association described the behaviour of these agencies as “immoral and shameful,” criticising them for what they called “public relations theatrics” that follow spikes in road crashes.
“It is immoral & shameful that whenever road crashes spike & claim the lives of many innocent Kenyans, triggering public outrage, the very agencies mandated, funded, & entrusted to safeguard road safety suddenly awaken from slumber only to engage in public relations theatrics,” the statement read.
The recent months have seen a worrying increase in fatal road accidents across the country, raising concerns among motorists, families, and road safety experts alike. The fatalities have sparked widespread public outrage, with many calling for urgent and effective measures to curb the trend.
Inadequate enforcement
The Motorists Association’s condemnation comes amid mounting frustrations over what many perceive as inadequate enforcement of road safety laws and lax oversight of drivers and vehicles. Kenya Road Safety Authority Chairperson David Njoroge, speaking during a local radio talk show on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, said he has issued numerous warnings about systemic issues such as untrained drivers and uninspected vehicles, yet progress has remained painfully slow.
“We had told them that in two years, these road accidents would be here and now they have started happening,” Njoroge said
According to Njoroge, Kenya currently has over 1.2 million vehicles on the roads that have not undergone proper inspection, and many drivers hold licenses obtained without adequate training. “You can have a license with Ksh6000, so we have many drivers on our roads who don’t know how to drive,” he said in a recent interview.
The Motorists Association’s statement suggests that the reactive nature of the road safety agencies undermines efforts to prevent accidents before they happen. The association calls for a shift from publicity-driven responses to sustained, proactive interventions focused on enforcing laws and promoting safe driving behaviour.
Kenya’s road safety challenge is complex and demands coordinated action involving law enforcement, government bodies, and the public. Yet, the current crisis highlights gaps in accountability and leadership within agencies tasked with protecting lives on the roads.
As Kenyans mourn those lost in recent accidents, the Motorists Association’s criticism serves as a stark reminder that preventing such tragedies requires more than statements and media appearances; it requires genuine commitment, adequate resources, and consistent enforcement of road safety regulations.
“The very agencies mandated, funded, & entrusted to safeguard road safety suddenly awaken from slumber only to engage in public relations theatrics,” the statement reads
The association urges road safety agencies to “wake up” and prioritise saving lives over managing optics, stressing that the cost of inaction is measured in human lives.
With Kenya’s roads continuing to claim too many victims, the pressure is mounting for those charged with road safety to move beyond reactive gestures and implement lasting solutions that will restore public trust and reduce avoidable deaths.