Accidents in Kenya
According to the 2009 World Health Organisation (WHO) global status report, Kenya recorded 3,760 traffic deaths, the highest in East Africa region. At least 90% of the global fatalities from traffic accidents occur in low and middle income countries even though, only 46% of global vehicles are in these countries. Kenya has among the worst statistics globally (WHO Global status report, 2009). By 2015, WHO predicts the increase of road deaths to rise from 1.2 to 1.8 million, and 2.4 million by 2030.
On 19th-20th November 2009, Russia, requested by United Nations General Assembly hosted the first global ministerial conference on road safety. The conference invited United Nations to declare 2011-2020 a decade of action for road safety to stabilize and reduce the forecast level of global death by 2020. No one needs to do more to address the large and growing road carnage impact than Kenya.
The WHO Global status report states that nearly half of those dying on the roads – 46% are vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists and riders of motorized two wheelers and their passengers. We think this number is slightly higher in Kenya. According to the Kenya Police statistics 8 pedestrians were reported killed within 24 hours on Monday 14th June 2010. In May 2010, 144 pedestrians were killed and 189 were seriously injured.
Kenya is among the many developing countries that have no comprehensive and sufficient in scope safety laws relating to key risk factors. In Kenya, what we see is knee jerk reactions to major accidents. These risk factors include: Speed, Drink driving, Helmets and High visibility Attires, Seat belts and Child restraints.
Enforcement of laws relating to key risk factors for road traffic injuries is often lacking
Moving forward, WHO predicts global road safety fatalities to rise to 2.4 million per year by 2030. Considering the current trend, if we fail to act, it will translate to almost 8,000 deaths per year on our roads by 2030. God forbid.
Pamoja road safety initiative works for zero deaths on kenyan roads. Road crashes are not road accidents. They are preventable and must be stopped.
Munene Gachuru
On 19th-20th November 2009, Russia, requested by United Nations General Assembly hosted the first global ministerial conference on road safety. The conference invited United Nations to declare 2011-2020 a decade of action for road safety to stabilize and reduce the forecast level of global death by 2020. No one needs to do more to address the large and growing road carnage impact than Kenya.
The WHO Global status report states that nearly half of those dying on the roads – 46% are vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists and riders of motorized two wheelers and their passengers. We think this number is slightly higher in Kenya. According to the Kenya Police statistics 8 pedestrians were reported killed within 24 hours on Monday 14th June 2010. In May 2010, 144 pedestrians were killed and 189 were seriously injured.
Kenya is among the many developing countries that have no comprehensive and sufficient in scope safety laws relating to key risk factors. In Kenya, what we see is knee jerk reactions to major accidents. These risk factors include: Speed, Drink driving, Helmets and High visibility Attires, Seat belts and Child restraints.
Enforcement of laws relating to key risk factors for road traffic injuries is often lacking
Moving forward, WHO predicts global road safety fatalities to rise to 2.4 million per year by 2030. Considering the current trend, if we fail to act, it will translate to almost 8,000 deaths per year on our roads by 2030. God forbid.
Pamoja road safety initiative works for zero deaths on kenyan roads. Road crashes are not road accidents. They are preventable and must be stopped.
Munene Gachuru
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