Foggy weather and failure to adhere to road safety rules blamed for accidents along Nairobi-Nakuru highway

NAKURU,Kenya, July 9 – The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has raised the red flag on the number of road accidents involving bodaboda riders along the busy Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.

According to NTSA, the accidents in recent weeks have been as a result of the foggy weather being experienced in the region as well as the failure of riders to comply with road safety rules. Some bodaboda operators are said to not be wearing reflective jackets that would easily help oncoming traffic to easily detect them.

It is also believed that an increasing number of untrained bodaboda operators have flooded the market in Naivasha and its environs posing a danger to not only themselves but also to commuters, motorists and pedestrians.

Kinungi, Ihundu, Fly Over, Kinale and Kijabe have been identified as the sections of the highway that have been affected by the fog due to the cold weather. Visibility stills remains a huge cvhallenge.

“We have decided to issue the motorcycle operators with the reflective jackets for visibility and to offer them umbrellas to shield them during rainy seasons,” said Stanley Karanja, a local leader.

During the launch of a safety training targeting at least 500 bodaboda operators, NTSA  and local leaders have urged all stakeholders to comply with road safety rules.

Meanwhile safety concerns have also been raised against gangs operating along the highway, with bodaboda operators bearing the brunt of some of the recent attacks and muggings.

“These gangs are now targeting new motorcycles along our highways, we are deeply worried by this trend where motorcycles are cut into pieces which are later sold as spare parts,” he said.

Richard Kimani, the chairman of the local bodaboda operators hailed the training and urged operators to always adhere to road safety rules while at the same time urging police to crackdown on highway robbers and gangs.

“Currently the biggest challenge that we are facing is the rise in cases of armed theft in this sector and the majority of the stolen motorcycles are never recovered,” he said.