Bad attitudes by drivers have been blamed for the alarming road carnage that is causing pain and huge economic loss to the country.
Besides speeding and recklessness, negative attitudes by motorists have been pointed out as some of the causes of fatal road crashes.
One such incident is last Sunday’s accident along the Nairobi – Nakuru highway which claimed the lives of 14 family members, a thing that opinion leaders say could have been avoided.
The 14 were killed when the hired matatu they were traveling in collided head-on with a trailer at Kikopee area as the driver tried to overtake another vehicle. They were going to visit an ailing relative.
It is claimed that the driver of a SUV vehicle that the matatu was overtaking refused to give way and instead accelerated even as the other driver was trying to avoid a collision with an oncoming truck.
“The lives of these people may have been spared if the driver of the Toyota Prado slowed down to give way to the matatu. Again, even the truck driver also did nothing to avoid the collision. It’s all about attitudes,” said Edward Gitonga, the Chairman Speed Governors and Road Safety Association.
During a memorial service for the victims held at Gacharage village in Kandara, Murang’a County on Saturday October 4th, 2025, leaders while cautioning against speeding, called on drivers to exercise patience and respect on the roads.
The interdenominational service for the victims was held ahead of the burials scheduled to take place on different days starting from Monday, October 6th, 2025.
A cross section of leaders led by Cabinet Secretary for Lands who is also former area MP Alice Wahome and Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu pleaded with motorists to exercise courtesy and caution on the roads to avoid such tragedies.
Wahome said such deaths can be avoided if the drivers have a positive attitude and respect for other road users. She also advised families to avoid traveling long distances in one vehicle as a way of avoiding such tragedies.
“It may be a bit more expensive, but if families can plan well in advance and use different means of transport we can avoid these very unfortunate and deeply sad situations,” said Ms Wahome.
Kinyona ward MCA Liz Mbugua said drivers should not make it a habit of assuming the other motorist would give way, saying some fail to reason out due to mental stress or other factors.
“Some people are going through a lot of psychological issues including depression and social problems. Let us be extremely careful on the roads,” said Ms Mbugua.
Road safety officials who had attended the service asked the government to complete dualing of the Nairobi – Nakuru – Eldoret highway to minimize fatalities on the busy stretch which continues to claim lifes despite having been approved to upgraded to multi-lanes.
Gitonga and David Kiarie of Road Safety Association of Kenya said the road should be upgraded to at least four lanes for the time being, noting that the accidents witnessed on the highway have mostly wiped out travellers in PSV vehicles and personal cars.
“The culprits have largely been big trucks most of which are not taken through the mandatory vehicle inspection procedure as the owners dish out money to some corrupt officials and are allowed to have faluty vehicles on the roads,” said Kiarie.
He also charged that there are plans by National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in conjunction with some senior government officials to privatize vehicle inspection centers and driver testing units, a thing he said will further compromise road safety.
“Someone who has failed to ensure the safety services at NTSA work now wants to join a cartel to control these functions from outside. Removing these units from government agencies and placing them under private individuals would be suicidal. We are totally opposed to the move,” maintained Kiarie.
Senator Nyutu on his part asked long distance drivers to be extra careful and vigilant while on the road and even ensure they get enough rest and sleep to avoid such fatalities.
He also prevailed on county governments to ensure they set aside the mandatory 2 percent emergency kitty from their budgets to cover expenses for accidents and other calamities.
Anthony Ndura, the chairman of the joint burial committee explained that the death toll from the Kikopee accident was 14, not 16, as reported in some sections of the media.
