The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has called on the government to declare road accidents a national disaster following a rise in fatal crashes across the country.
In a statement shared on social media on Sunday, October 25, the authority said road crashes kill more than 5,000 people annually, with about 20,000 incidents reported each year.
NTSA noted that the accidents continue to destroy families, put pressure on healthcare facilities and affect economic productivity.
“As an Authority, we propose that road traffic crashes be declared a national disaster to mobilise urgent government action, secure adequate funding and ensure coordinated enforcement,” NTSA stated.
The authority said the proposed declaration would help the government take urgent action to reduce road deaths and serious injuries.
It also wants adequate funding and better coordination among agencies responsible for road safety.
According to NTSA, classifying road accidents as a national disaster would help establish clear responsibilities and measurable targets for road agencies, the National Police Service, healthcare providers and county governments.
The authority maintained that road safety should not be treated as a transport issue alone, describing it as a national development and security priority that requires cooperation across different government departments.
The call followed a deadly accident at Kanga, near Mtito Andei, along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway on Sunday.
The crash claimed 24 lives, with authorities, including the Kenya Red Cross, indicating that the death toll could rise.
Preliminary reports showed that the accident involved a public service vehicle and a commercial vehicle.
The two vehicles reportedly collided head-on, with improper overtaking suspected to have contributed to the crash.
NTSA said its accident investigation team was working with the police to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Injured passengers were also receiving medical treatment.
Under Kenya’s disaster management framework, an incident may require national intervention when its scale exceeds the ability of local authorities to respond effectively.
Factors such as mass casualties, widespread damage and major disruption help determine the level of response needed.
The National Disaster Operations Centre and the National Disaster Risk Management Authority play roles in assessing emergencies and coordinating responses. Their assessments can help establish whether available resources are sufficient or whether additional national support is required.
A formal declaration would depend on the applicable legal procedures and the nature of the emergency. The Constitution also gives the President powers to declare a state of emergency under Article 132(4)(d), subject to constitutional safeguards.
Kenya last declared a major national disaster in September 2021, when former President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the drought affecting arid and semi-arid regions a national disaster.
At the time, close to 2.5 million people faced acute food shortages and the threat of hunger.
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