A total of 398 Kenyans have lost their lives from January 1, 2026, to January 30, 2026, painting a grim picture of the country's road safety crisis. According to the National Police Service Traffic Dept liaison in Nairobi County, Boniface Otieno, the fatalities represent an 11 per cent increase compared to last year's statistics. 

He noted that a total of 854 accidents occurred on the road, surpassing last year's figure of 850 recorded by the end of the year. As a result, 2,032 victims were recorded by January 30th, representing an 8 per cent increase compared to 1,132 in 2025.  

During the period, pedestrians remain the leading category of road users dying as a result of road accidents, with 143 deaths recorded, followed by motorcyclists with 102.  

Passengers accounted for 77 deaths, while 38 drivers perished in various crashes involving private vehicles, buses, and matatus. 

Pillion passengers recorded 31 fatalities, while 7 bicycle riders died during the 30 days.  

"The greatest responsibility for road safety is the road user. On the road, we say, whether you're right, please yield, slow down, it will save time and lives," Otieno stated during an interview on NTV's Fixing The Nation. 

The high number of passenger fatalities raises concerns about speeding, overloading, and non-compliance with safety regulations among road users. By Brian Kimani, Citizen Digital