The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced a crackdown in a bid to mitigate road accidents during the Easter festivities and school holidays.
In a statement on Thursday, April 3, NTSA noted that close supervision of children and the identification of safe vehicles will be critical in preventing road accidents.
"As school children travel home for the holidays, there is an urgent need for all players within the road transport sector to put measures in place to ensure their safe passage. Close supervision of children and the identification of safe vehicles to transport them will play a critical role in ensuring their safety.
"In the past, the country witnessed cases of reckless driving, distractions by students, and unfortunately, some of the incidents led to fatal and serious injuries. Through close collaboration with law enforcement, parents/guardians, school management, transport service providers, and school children, such incidences can be prevented," the statement read.
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As such, NTSA said it will be conducting a crackdown targeting driver/conductor behavior and vehicle safety compliance.
"Working with the National Police Service during this period and the Easter festivities, there will be major focus on driver/conductor behavior, vehicle safety compliance, and Usalama Barabarani education.
"All motorists are therefore required to practice road safety and take responsibility for their actions," the statement continued.
Additionally, NTSA explained that in the past six months, it has taken significant enforcement actions including suspending over 200 driving licenses.
"In the last six months, the Authority has suspended two hundred and eighty- eight (288) Driving Licenses and four hundred and twenty (420) drivers subjected to a driver retest following public reports of driver misconduct, speed violations recorded on the NISA Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS), findings from safety compliance audits conducted on Public Service transport Operators and court outcomes," the statement added.
This new development comes days after three pupils died in a grisly road accident in Nyakach, Kisumu County.
In his appeal to the police, Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o called for a thorough investigation into the accident that also claimed the life of the vehicle's conductor.
Nyong'o also suggested that action be taken against individuals whose negligence led to the accident.
"I wish to appeal to the police to immediately launch detailed investigations into this accident to establish the cause and take appropriate action to individuals whose mistakes may have led to the crash," the statement read.
