Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok encountered a minor accident on Monday morning while traveling along the Narok-Kericho Highway. The incident involved Governor Barchok’s official vehicle and a boda boda, with a passenger seated behind the rider.
According to a statement released by the governor’s office, both Governor Barchok and the boda boda rider emerged from the accident unharmed. However, the passenger on the boda boda sustained minor soft tissue injuries and is presently receiving medical care at the Longisa County Referral Hospital. Governor Barchok expressed his wishes for the swift recovery of the injured passenger.
In response to the incident, Governor Barchok emphasized the importance of adhering to traffic regulations and exercising caution while using the roads to avert similar incidents in the future.
Recent data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) reveals a concerning trend, indicating that 1,214 lives were lost in road accidents over the past three months. NTSA’s Deputy Director of Safety, Audit, and Inspection, Eng Christine Ogut, highlighted a five percent increase in fatalities compared to the same period last year. This observation was made during an extensive operation focused on enhancing awareness of road safety, particularly on the Kaplong-Bomet-Mulot-Narok routes on April 10.
Eng Ogut underscored that pedestrians constituted the highest number of fatalities, followed by motorbike riders, passengers, and drivers. In 2023, approximately 3,609 individuals lost their lives in road accidents, while in 2022, the number stood at 4,690, according to NTSA statistics.
In response to the escalating rate of road accidents, NTSA has initiated nationwide compliance checks and bolstered safety measures to address the menace of road carnage. Eng Ogut emphasized NTSA’s efforts to engage with drivers and matatu Saccos, organizing sessions to educate them on road safety protocols.
Identifying the absence of speed limiters in vehicles, particularly public service vehicles, as a significant contributing factor to accidents, Eng Ogut stressed the necessity of addressing this issue. Additionally, she highlighted excessive speed as the primary cause of accidents, accounting for 70 percent of incidents on Kenyan roads.
