The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced mandatory re-testing for thousands of drivers flagged by its Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS) as part of measures to reduce road accidents during the upcoming festive season. This comes amid a 2.6 percent rise in road crash victims in 2025. Acting Director General Angela Wanjira emphasized proactive enforcement to protect lives on Kenyan roads.
On Sunday, November 16, 2025, NTSA Acting Director General Angela Wanjira unveiled a series of initiatives to enhance road safety ahead of the Christmas travel period, coinciding with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The announcements address a concerning uptick in accidents, with road crash victims increasing by 2.6 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year, and fatalities rising by 2.9 percent across all road users.
Key data from January 1 to October 31, 2025, revealed 21,042 total road crash victims. Pillion passenger deaths surged 15 percent to 411, while pedestrians accounted for the highest fatalities at 1,580. Other figures included 376 driver deaths, 681 for other passengers, 62 for pedal cyclists, and 1,085 for motorcyclists—a sharp 9.15 percent increase in October alone compared to 2024's total of 994 motorcyclist fatalities. Slight injuries rose 11.4 percent, though serious injuries declined 2.8 percent to 9,888 cases. Nairobi led with 447 fatalities, followed by Kiambu (387) and Nakuru (318).
Central to the strategy is the IRSMS, launched in 2023, which monitors public service vehicles (PSVs) and commercial fleets for speed, driver behavior, braking patterns, and route compliance, issuing alerts for violations like reckless overtaking. Drivers flagged by the system will face mandatory re-testing to verify competency, with non-compliance risking license revocation. NTSA plans to enforce real-time IRSMS data transmission for continuous monitoring.
Additional measures include expanding the Usalama Barabarani program to promote seat belt use, combat driver fatigue, and raise awareness of safe practices. Pre-festive inspection clinics will target bus termini, anticipating a travel boom to rural areas. NTSA will also partner with the National Police Service for multi-agency prevention efforts, prioritizing adherence over reaction.
Wanjira highlighted the human toll, stating, “Each loss on our roads represents more than a statistic. Families and communities bear the trauma, grief, and financial hardships that come with every death or serious injury.” The government aims to halve road accidents by 2030 through these proactive steps, historically vital during the festive season when crashes peak.