Today's Headlines
- Lessons and Implications of the Confirmation of Charges Against Kenya's 'Ocampo Four'
- Finance Minister Quits Over ICC Charges
- Shortage of HIV Test Kits Raises Concerns
- Living On the Edge in Turkana Region
- Ali Breaks Silence, Describes Delight At Acquittal
- Uhuru, Ruto Eligible for Presidency - CIC
- Tea Sector Posts Record Earnings in 2011
- Resettle IDPs, Urges Annan
- Uhuru, Muthaura Have Done the Right Thing
- All Displaced People Should Return Home
- Concern Raised As Parents Shun Schools in Poll Violence Hotspots
- Ruling On IEBC Hiring in February
- Country Working Towards Conditions Needed for Direct Flights to U.S.
- How ICC Claimed Kibaki's Lieutenants
- Geothermal Project to Receive Sh10 Billion Funding Boost
- Five Million to Get IDs Before Elections
- Speed Up Building Port
- Uhuru and Muthaura Did Well to Quit Posts
- A Full Plate Awaits Githae
- Clashes Continue in Moyale
- Baraza Case to Be Heard Monday
- Two Firms in Joint Venture to Drill for Oil Near Lodwar
- Exit Uhuru, Muthaura
- ICC Charges Hound Uhuru Out of Treasury
- Consumers Grow Despite Inflation
- Poor Relations Between Banks Blamed for Cash Shortages
- Fish Prices Up As Vegetable Supply Dwindles
- Consumers to Pay More for Milk and Bread As Prices Rise
- Kibaki Tasks Ex-Dar CJ to Lead Probe in Kenya
- Mombasa Port Cargo Congestion Forces Three-Month Fees Waiver
Simon Siele and Gitonga Marete
7 September 2010
Nairobi — The Roads ministry has redesigned major highways to reduce accidents.
Roads minister Franklin Bett said engineers were reviewing the design work to take into account the protests by wananchi who live or work near some of the major highways.
He accused motorists and pedestrians of flouting traffic regulations, saying this was a major contributor to the accidents.
Speaking at Molo and Kuresoi districts when commissioning the rehabilitation of the 50-km Kibunja-Olenguruone road, the minister said some of the design work included erecting bumps to discourage speeding especially near towns.
"While we are committed to give Kenyans motorable roads, it is painful to realise that they have turned into death chambers due to speeding and other human errors as opposed to bad condition of our highways," said Mr Bett, also the Buret MP.
He said a section between Kibunja and Salgaa trading centre was redesigned during reconstruction to reduce accidents.
"Recently we redesigned part of this highway to become a straight lane to avoid more accidents on the 20km stretch between Salgaa and Kibunja. I am constantly being asked to erect bumps in other sections because motorists and pedestrians are not observing the highway code," said Mr Bett.
On Tuesday, six people were killed in accidents across the country while more than 28 others were injured.
About 3,000 people die annually in road accidents.
Meanwhile, a transporters' association has blamed the law for overloading of lorries that has continued to destroy major roads.
The Kenya Transport Association (KTA) has termed the current penalties on offenders as ineffective.
Its officials now want the Traffic Act amended if the government is serious about ending overloading.
Section 58 of the Act states: Any person who drives or uses on a road (an overloaded vehicle) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding four hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.
"According to the law the owner of the vehicle does not commit an offence by overloading and yet these are the people who engage in the crime. The day truck owners will be arraigned in court for their own mistakes we will be a step forward in addressing the problem," said KTA secretary Paul Maiyo.
He said innocent transporters are fined while unscrupulous ones overload and deliver cargo when they can conveniently avoid weighing machines.
