Last week, the Ministry of Roads and Transport through the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) launched Kenya’s new National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028 with iRAP included as a metric for infrastructure safety.

The official launch ceremony was graced by His Excellency President William Ruto, EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger, among other dignitaries.

The Action Plan outlines for a rolling set of iRAP assessments to be undertaken of Class A, B and C paved roads, and major urban road networks in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru, to identify high-risk road sections.

This will provide feedback on progress made on the Northern Corridor since the last iRAP survey in 2009 and provide critical and current insight into the safety of all road users, particularly vulnerable pedestrians and motorcyclists.

Safer Road Investment Plans will be developed to prioritise evidence-based safety improvements and inform road authority projects.

National capacity building in road safety engineering techniques and management will include a focus on the iRAP methodology and tools.

Notably, the plan marks a departure from past approaches by integrating road design and safety as integral components.

Along with improvements to road infrastructure, other key focusses of the Plan include vehicle safety standards, stricter enforcement measures, heightened public awareness campaigns, post-crash care services, promotion of safe driving practices, road safety database development, and monitoring and evaluation systems.

It is estimated that road carnage costs Kenya’s economy a staggering Sh450 billion annually.

The launch of the 2024-2028 Action Plan marks a significant milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to save lives and prevent serious injuries on Kenyan roads.

According to iRAP’s Safety Insights Explorer, achieving UN Target 4 for greater than 75% of travel on 3-star or better roads for all road users in the country by 2030 stands to save over 1 million lives and serious injuries over the 20-year life of road treatments with an economic benefit of USD$32.6 billion – $10.40 for every $1 spent.

Image credit: Ministry of Roads and Transport