Fatal road accidents have been reported across the country as Kenyans begin to celebrate the festive season.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) reported that crashes have occurred in Kakamega, Bungoma, Nakuru, Nyeri, Siaya, Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos, Narok, Kisii, Turkana, and Uasin Gishu counties.
On December 23, 2025 alone, the agency recorded 16 crashes, resulting in 25 fatalities.
Most of the victims were pedestrians and passengers, NTSA noted, with eight pedestrians, eight passengers, five motorcyclists, three pillion passengers, and one driver among those killed.
The authority extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families while wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.
“As the nation celebrates the festive season, we reaffirm that road safety remains our top priority,” NTSA said, highlighting the urgent need for caution on the roads during this busy period.
To enhance safety, NTSA has deployed all available resources and intensified enforcement measures. Over the past four days, multi-agency compliance checks have identified 1,702 traffic violations involving commercial, public service, and private vehicles.
The primary violations included malfunctioning or absent speed limiters, drunken driving, operating unroadworthy vehicles, overloading, contravening insurance and vehicle tax requirements, and operating without a Road Service Licence (RSL).
Additionally, 42 drivers have been arrested, and 418 vehicles flagged as non-compliant.
The authority warned that festive travel often sees a spike in accidents and urged all road users—including drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians—to exercise extreme caution.
“We call on everyone to use roads responsibly, strictly adhere to traffic rules, and avoid actions that endanger lives,” NTSA said.
Road safety experts have consistently stressed that festive seasons tend to increase traffic volumes, which, combined with reckless driving and non-compliance with regulations, creates high-risk conditions on Kenyan roads.
NTSA’s intensified enforcement, the agency said, is aimed at reducing avoidable deaths and ensuring safer journeys for all.
As families travel to reunite and celebrate, authorities are appealing to Kenyans to remain vigilant and make responsible choices, reminding the public that the festive season should be a time for joy, not tragedy.
The holiday period sees a surge in passenger numbers, prompting operators to increase the number of trips and maximise profits.
This leads to fierce competition on highways, where speed often becomes the determining factor in attracting passengers or meeting operational targets.
As a result, overloading becomes rampant. Some vehicles pick up excess passengers or luggage, compromising their stability, braking capacity and overall safety.
Overloaded buses, especially during nighttime highway travel, struggle to manoeuvre effectively, making crashes more catastrophic. Rogue driving behaviour also spikes.
Many matatu and bus drivers engage in speeding, reckless overtaking and outright disregard for traffic rules in a bid to complete as many trips as possible.
