President William Ruto has warned of the escalating road safety crisis in Kenya, revealing that road accidents claimed 5,009 lives last year.
Speaking during the Presentation of a Report by the National Council on the Administration of Justice on Traffic Accidents and Deaths on Monday, March 2, he said the figure represents an increase of 261 deaths compared to 2024.
“Kenya records more than 4,000 road fatalities annually. Last year alone, 5,009 deaths were reported on our roads, an increase of 261 compared to 2024,” he said.
Ruto noted that beyond the human toll, road crashes are inflicting significant economic losses on the country.
“These accidents and their ensuing fatalities and injuries cost our economy the equivalent of 5% of our GDP, translating to an estimated loss of Ksh450 billion annually,” he added.
Ruto also singled out the 2025 festive season as particularly tragic, even as he acknowledged ongoing efforts to address the challenge.
“During the 2025 festive season alone, 415 deaths were recorded, a 23% increase from the previous year. I am, however, encouraged that deliberate steps are already being taken to confront this challenge,” he continued.
Ruto said enforcement measures rolled out during the festive season had started to bear fruit.
He noted that the crackdown had led to a notable drop in fatalities involving Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).
“I am pleased to note that the interventions during the festive season yielded measurable gains. The deployment of 36 prosecutors, 40 officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and 121 officers from the National Transport and Safety Authority significantly strengthened enforcement.
“As a result, fatalities involving Public Service Vehicles declined by 10%, largely due to intensified oversight. This initiative has, therefore, established a viable and replicable national model for managing traffic offences,” he further said.
Addressing the causes of road carnage, Ruto outlined a range of contributing factors affecting motorists, operators and pedestrians alike.
“Major contributors include reckless driving, speeding and drunk driving, poor driver training, widespread unlicensed riding, unroadworthy vehicles, counterfeit spare parts, unsafe road design, and the high vulnerability of pedestrians and motorcyclists. Economic pressures on PSV operators are also contributing to risky behaviour,” he explained.
Ruto further pointed to systemic gaps within the justice system that undermine efforts to curb traffic offences.
“The pilot further exposed critical weaknesses within the justice chain. These include persistent corruption and roadside bribery, delays in investigations and prosecutions, weak evidence management systems, digital gaps, inconsistent fines, absence of traffic-specific sentencing guidelines, limited capacity of the workforce, funding constraints, and weak enforcement of Notices to Attend Court,” he stated.
