Members of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) have raised serious concern over the rising number of road traffic deaths in the country, calling for urgent, coordinated action to enhance public safety and uphold the rule of law during the festive season and beyond.
The call was made during a Special Council Meeting convened by the NCAJ, bringing together key justice and enforcement agencies, including the National Police Service (NPS), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the State Department for Correctional Services, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
The meeting was held against the backdrop of an alarming increase in traffic-related fatalities, which rose from 4,479 deaths in 2024 to 4,682 in 2025 — a five per cent increase. Council members acknowledged that the festive season typically sees a surge in road usage, often accompanied by congestion, reckless driving, and a spike in accidents.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the Council condoled with families who have lost loved ones in road crashes and expressed deep concern that road traffic accidents continue to pose a major public safety and security challenge. Members noted that road carnage not only leads to loss of life and livelihoods but also places immense strain on the healthcare system and disrupts the movement of people and goods across the country.
The Council cited risky road behaviour — including speeding, driver fatigue, dangerous overtaking, drunk driving, and non-compliance with traffic laws — as leading and preventable causes of accidents and congestion. Emphasising their constitutional mandate, members reiterated that they are collectively bound to protect the lives and welfare of all Kenyans.
Reaffirming that road safety is a shared responsibility, the NCAJ stressed that addressing traffic-related deaths requires collective commitment from government agencies, the public, civil society, faith-based organisations, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
To this end, the Council resolved to put in place elaborate and diverse measures to enhance road safety and ensure the smooth movement of persons and goods during the festive season and beyond. Kenyans were urged to strictly observe traffic rules and regulations, with motorists particularly warned against over-speeding, drunk driving, and overlapping. Members of the public were encouraged to report concerns through the toll-free numbers 999, 911, and 112.
The Council announced plans to strengthen multi-agency collaboration and information sharing to ensure a unified and practical approach to traffic law enforcement and the overall administration of justice. Joint enforcement operations and heightened visibility will be prioritised, especially along high-risk corridors, including the deployment of mobile courts and the use of both physical and electronic enforcement measures.
These operations will involve close collaboration among officers from the National Police Service, ODPP, Judiciary, NTSA, Kenya Prisons Service, EACC, and the LSK. Suspects requiring legal representation will be accorded the opportunity to contact their advocates.
Additionally, strategic deployment of roadblocks will be increased to intensify vehicle and motorbike inspections. The Council urged Kenyans to ensure their vehicles and motorcycles are roadworthy before travelling, noting that special attention will be paid to motorbikes that violate traffic laws, alongside measures to streamline their operations.
In a bid to curb corruption, EACC officers will be deployed along major highways to monitor enforcement of traffic laws. The public was urged not to offer bribes when arrested for traffic violations, while assurances were given that human rights compliance will be closely monitored.
The Council further resolved to scale up public sensitisation and education campaigns on road safety, involving justice sector agencies, transport and road agencies, the health sector, the media, and community actors. The health sector was encouraged to deploy standby ambulances to ensure quick emergency response during the festive period.
Stakeholder engagement, including with the media, will be enhanced, and resources mobilised to support the planned interventions. The Council also committed to sustaining discussions on legal, policy, and administrative reforms aimed at strengthening the administration of justice in relation to traffic offences.
The resolutions were issued in Nairobi on December 15, 2025, by Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya and Chairperson of the NCAJ, Hon. Justice Martha K. Koome, EGH, who underscored that saving lives on Kenyan roads is a collective duty that must extend beyond the festive season.
