Although relatively few Kenyans drive, a very high number of people are killed on the roads each year. On Saturday another 17 people were killed in a road crash, the fifth crash this month resulting in 5 or more fatalities. 13 people were killed in a bus crash on 19 September, and another 13 were killed in crashes between minibuses and lorries on 7 September. 5 people were killed in another minibus-lorry crash. The annual road death toll is around 3,500, and the toll so far this year is 2,235.
There are numerous reasons for the crashes, including bad driving, alcohol, speeding, poorly maintained roads and poorly maintained vehicles. According to the Daily Nation, 80% of public service vehicles are unroadworthy and have been fraudulently issued with inspection papers. Theoretically, public service vehicles are fitted with speed governors to limit their maximum speed. In practice, 85% of these do not work. The traffic police are contemplating requiring new devices which would create permanent records of the speeds reached by vehicles. There is also a move to introduce speed cameras, with a view to using them next year.
Minibus operators are required to pay a tax before taking their vehicles for inspection. In practice, many choose to avoid both the tax and the inspection. According to the Transport Licensing Board, some 89% of cars on the road are believed to carry defects, and 24% of them carry major defects. Less than 20% of the vehicles in use have complied with inspection requirements.