The National Police Service (NPS) has raised concern over a sharp rise in road traffic accidents recorded at the start of 2026, warning that the situation has reached crisis levels and requires urgent collective action.

In a press statement issued by the Office of the Inspector General on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the police have revealed that at least 31 people have lost their lives within the first six days of the new year, with many others sustaining serious injuries and significant property damage reported across the country.

According to the NPS, preliminary assessments indicate that most of the crashes were entirely preventable, with human error emerging as the leading cause. The service cited reckless driving, speeding, driver fatigue, drunk driving, and persistent traffic violations by boda boda riders as key contributors.

Preventable errors

”Preliminary analysis of the majority of the accidents points to preventable human error. They include: reckless driving, speeding, driver fatigue, driving under the influence, persistent violations by boda boda riders, including travelling the wrong way and riding on walkways causes that are totally avoidable,” the statement reads in part.

Despite sustained enforcement during the festive season through a multi-agency approach involving the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and other stakeholders, the spike in fatalities has prompted the Inspector General Douglas Kanja to issue fresh directives.

As a result, all regional, county and sub-county Traffic Police Commanders have been ordered to institute stringent, continuous, high-visibility enforcement operations nationwide. The crackdown will particularly target speeding, drunk driving, unroadworthy vehicles, and public service vehicle (PSV) compliance, alongside intensified breathalyser tests.

”However, and as a consequence of what we have witnessed most recently, and effective immediately, the Inspector General of the National Police Service has directed all Regional, County and Sub-County Traffic Police Commanders to institute the following measures: stringent, continuous high visibility enforcement targeting all manner of traffic violations,” the statement added.

The police have also announced that targeted operations will be enhanced at identified accident black spots, guided by data from crash-mapping systems, as part of broader efforts to address the root causes of road carnage.

While enforcement remains central, the NPS has emphasised that road safety is a shared responsibility, calling on all road users to exercise caution and common sense, especially as learners return to schools and colleges after the festive break.

The NPS has further appealed to PSV owners, SACCOs, and boda boda associations to strengthen self-regulation, ensure speed governors are installed and monitored, manage driver fatigue through proper shift schedules, and maintain vehicles regularly.

Karai accident

This comes as survivors of the recent tragic Karai road crash along the Nakuru highway have shared harrowing accounts of the moments leading up to the early morning accident, alleging that the bus driver was speeding recklessly.

While receiving treatment at Naivasha Sub-County Hospital, the survivors, who were aboard the bus, said that the driver ignored repeated warnings from passengers, which they say contributed directly to the crash.

Meanwhile, members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and report reckless or suspicious behaviour on the roads to the nearest police station.