The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has raised concern over a sharp increase in road fatalities, revealing that 2,150 people have lost their lives in traffic accidents since the beginning of 2026.
The authority says the figure represents an 11 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, highlighting the growing challenge of road safety across the country.
Speaking on Monday, NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa said pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users, accounting for the highest number of deaths recorded so far.
“We have 2,150 people who died on the roads this year, which is an increase of around 11 percent from last year, and of these, around 836 are pedestrians,” Kondiwa said.
“They form the majority, followed by motorcyclists. We have 188 drivers who have died on the road.”
Pedestrians and motorcyclists most affected
According to NTSA data, pedestrians continue to bear the brunt of road accidents despite ongoing efforts to improve road safety awareness and enforcement.
The authority noted that motorcyclists also remain among the most affected groups, reflecting the rapid growth of the boda boda sector and increasing concerns about compliance with traffic regulations.
Road safety experts have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, improved infrastructure, and enhanced public awareness campaigns to protect vulnerable road users.
Kondiwa said the rising number of fatalities should serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders, including motorists, pedestrians, transport operators, and government agencies.
NTSA warns of economic impact
Beyond the human cost, NTSA warned that the increasing number of road crashes could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s economy.
The authority projects that road accidents could significantly affect national productivity and economic growth if effective interventions are not implemented.
“We have done some projections and realized that if we don’t have a serious intervention on these numbers, we are likely to lose up to 10 percent of the GDP by 2030,” Kondiwa stated.
The warning comes as Kenya continues to invest heavily in road infrastructure while grappling with persistent challenges related to road user behavior, speeding, reckless driving, and inadequate compliance with traffic regulations.
Drivers to undergo refresher training
In response to the growing crisis, NTSA has announced plans to introduce mandatory refresher training for drivers beginning in July.
Kondiwa said the programme is designed to ensure motorists regularly update their skills and remain familiar with evolving road safety requirements.
“From July, we want to train drivers afresh. In every profession, there is what we call professional development; people go for refresher courses,” he said.
“We want to really implement this for drivers who are continuously on the road so that people don’t just go to driving school and think they will remember everything forever.”
The authority believes continuous training will improve driver competence and help reduce accidents caused by human error.
Recent crashes highlight growing concern
The latest statistics come amid a series of fatal accidents reported across the country in recent weeks.
Among them was a crash along the Bungoma-Webuye highway that claimed five lives after a matatu collided with a trailer near Bukembe Bridge.
Earlier this month, another tragic accident along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway at Salama left ten people dead and 27 others injured.
The incidents have renewed calls for stronger enforcement measures and greater accountability among road users as authorities seek to reverse the rising trend in fatalities.
With road deaths continuing to climb, NTSA says urgent action from all stakeholders will be necessary to make Kenyan roads safer and prevent further loss of life.
