The Ministry of Transport, under Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has adopted the non-motorised policy for road designs.
Under the new policy, all roads constructed in the country will have lanes for non-motorists such as pedestrians.
Speaking during the launch of the Mtwapa – Kilifi road project in Kilifi County on Saturday, November 19, the CS revealed that the move was aimed at providing pedestrians with a safe path.
Many pedestrians, he argued, were losing their lives on the roads owing to various reasons – from hit and runs to crossing at undesignated locations and walking closer to highways.
“On this road, we have a new program called non-motorised transport. We want to ask all boba boda operators to leave the pedestrian path and use the main road.
“We are losing over 1000 pedestrians every year because there is no way to walk. This new policy is to ensure that all roads constructed have non-motorised transport,” the CS revealed.
Further, he divulged that other policies will also be introduced to protect motorists and other road users in the coming months.
“Our plan is to soon introduce cycling lanes. That will be implemented across the country as a national policy,” he stated.
Murkomen had accompanied President William Ruto to commission the construction of an over 40-kilometre road in the coastal county.
According to the latest data by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) indicates that 1,413 pedestrians lost their lives in 2022 as of October 30.
Motorcyclists followed suit with 1,046 and passengers at 693.
The new policy was unveiled days after the National Assembly approved a motion requiring the government to create space for planting trees along highways.
Dagoretti Member of Parliament, John Kiarie, while moving the motion, stipulated that trees would aid combat climate change and beautify the nation.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE