The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has intensified its road safety campaign ahead of the festive season, issuing a stark warning against drunk driving as Kenya records a worrying rise in road crashes and fatalities.

In a post published on X on December 11, 2025, NTSA shared a graphic depicting a hand clutching a beer bottle while gripping a steering wheel, accompanied by the message: “Alcohol slows your reaction time, impairs your judgement, and puts every road user at risk.”

The authority urged motorists to “Get a sober driver, use a taxi, or wait until you’re fully sober before getting behind the wheel.”

The warning comes at a critical time, with Kenya having recorded 4,458 road deaths in 2025, up from 4,311 during the same period last year. The festive season traditionally sees a spike in accidents as travel increases and celebrations involving alcohol become more common.

Recent fatal crashes

The warning follows a series of deadly accidents in early December. On December 7, a head-on collision between a Kinatwa Sacco public service vehicle and a commercial trailer occurred in the Masenyi area near Voi along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway.

The impact left the PSV destroyed, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. NTSA deployed road safety auditors and inspectors to investigate, stating: “A tragic road crash involving a public service vehicle and a commercial vehicle has occurred on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. Sadly, fatalities have been recorded, and several passengers have sustained injuries.”

The authority confirmed that Kinatwa Sacco is fully cooperating with all relevant agencies.

Two days earlier, on December 5, four people died in Busia County when a Sugar Zone Sacco PSV travelling from Bumala to Port Victoria overturned in the Wakhungu area after a front tyre burst. The driver and three passengers, a woman and two men, lost their lives in the incident.

NTSA has repeatedly called on public service vehicle operators, commercial drivers, and private motorists to exercise caution, observe speed limits, avoid reckless overtaking, take breaks when fatigued, and remain alert during the high-traffic festive period.

The authority stressed that preventable factors such as drunk driving, speeding, and mechanical failures remain the leading causes of crashes.