The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in partnership with the police, has arrested over 300 pedestrians for crossing roads at undesignated points or failing to use footbridges. This comes after a month-long public awareness campaign encouraging the use of pedestrian facilities.
Those apprehended were fined Ksh500 each, with court fines ranging from Ksh500 to Ksh5,000 depending on the charges. The crackdown aims to address the increasing number of pedestrian fatalities on Kenyan roads, which have reached 1,148 deaths since January 2024.
Focus on Pedestrian Safety
NTSA Director of Road Safety Andrew Kiplagat emphasized that pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users. "Crash statistics show that most of those losing their lives are pedestrians. That is why we are implementing this programme together with other government departments, including the police," he stated.
The enforcement phase followed an initial sensitization period, with Kiplagat noting that the operation will continue until compliance improves. "So far, more than 300 people have been arrested, and we expect this to reduce because nobody likes being arrested," he added.
Key Violation Hotspots
The NTSA has highlighted several roads as major hotspots for pedestrian violations, including:
- Thika Road near Allsops
- Ngara and Pangani areas
- Mombasa Road
- Outer Ring Road
- Lang’ata Road
- Waiyaki Way
- Mbagathi Way
The authority urges all Nairobi residents and Kenyans nationwide to use designated pedestrian crossings and footbridges to enhance safety and reduce road fatalities.
"Our appeal to the people of Nairobi and the entire country is that we protect life. Let us use the facilities that have been put in place so that we do not lose even a single life," Kiplagat concluded.
