On May 8, Nakuru County was thrown into mourning after at least 12 people lost their lives in a horrific road accident in Arimi, along the Njoro-Elburgon road.

The incident again exposed the harsh realities of road safety challenges in the region.

From May 19 to 25, Nakuru joins the rest of the world in commemorating UN Global Road Safety Week. While the pain of that loss remains fresh, the county has set aside several campaigns to create awareness around road safety.

During a phone interview with the County Executive for Roads and Transport Eng. Michael Kamau he says the road safety team visited several schools, including Moi and Lenena Comprehensive Schools as well as Menengai High and Moi Secondary Schools, to sensitize students on road safety and initiate road safety clubs.

“This week, we are reaching out to schools on the periphery of our city, and later this week, we’ll be holding roadshows across the county,” he said. “On Sunday, we will hold a public forum at Nyayo Garden, where schools, matatu industry operators, boda boda operators, among other stakeholders, will come together to form a unified voice on road safety.”

He adds that this year’s observance will also include marking important road crossing structures like zebra crossings and speed bumps within the town, instead of the usual tree-planting activities.

Despite these efforts, Eng. Kamau emphasized that Nakuru still faces serious road safety challenges.

“We are third in terms of fatalities, with over 400 fatalities in 2024, compared to over 390 in 2023,” he says, highlighting the urgent need for collaboration, particularly in urban areas and along busy transport corridors.

“We’re also trying to develop Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) facilities, as we lack sufficient space for pedestrians and cyclists, which leads to frequent collisions.”

Among the interventions, Eng. Kamau pointed out the deployment of volunteer traffic marshals who help children safely cross streets, though he stressed that more work remains to be done.

“We are still far from where we need to be. There’s a significant need for more partners to come on board to help us improve road safety in the county,” he notes.

The theme for this year’s campaign, “Streets for Life,” focuses on encouraging peaceful coexistence among all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

When asked about the county's emergency response efforts, the County Executive said they are better prepared, particularly in hotspot areas like Sachangwan and Naivasha.

“We have established Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in these areas, and in case of a crash, the local community knows who to contact,” he explains, adding that there is also a toll-free emergency number.

He also mentions the need for more partners to support ambulance services and improve response times.

Eldoret-Nakuru highway named deadliest, as Nakuru road deaths hit 413.

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Leleti Jassor