President William Ruto emphasized a strict stance on traffic law violations leading to accidents, asserting that tough measures will be implemented. He stressed the need to curb road negligence and enhance safety measures, advocating for modern technologies to monitor traffic violations and instant fines.
Addressing corruption within traffic police, Ruto underscored the detrimental impact on road recklessness, insisting on robust law enforcement to swiftly detect, apprehend, and prosecute offenders. He made these remarks during the launch of the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.
Present at the event were Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen and Ezekiel Machogu, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, and European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger. Ruto highlighted the plan’s multi-sectoral approach and government commitment to provide resources, address legal gaps, and bolster the National Police Service’s capacity.
Ruto called for closer collaboration between the National Transport and Safety Authority and the Traffic Department of the police to implement the safety action plan effectively. He set a target to reduce accidents, deaths, and injuries by 50% within a year, noting the strain on hospitals due to the high number of critical injuries.
Acknowledging the need for both infrastructure improvements and safety initiatives, Ruto pledged to enhance safety awareness campaigns to foster a national culture of responsible road usage. He urged public participation in ensuring road safety and condemned misconduct such as evading inspections, neglecting vehicle maintenance, reckless driving, and bribery.
In summary, President Ruto outlined a comprehensive strategy to tackle safety challenges on the road, emphasizing stringent enforcement, collaboration, and public engagement.