Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen made a significant announcement on July 4, aimed at addressing the increasing number of road accidents in the country. Speaking in Kericho County, Murkomen outlined a series of regulations proposed by the Ministry of Transport.
The most notable regulation stated that all Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), school buses, and vans would be required to have dashboard cameras and vehicle telematics installed. These measures were introduced to enhance safety and improve accountability within the transportation sector.
The telematics system would include a GPS feature that tracks the real-time location of each vehicle. Additionally, a black box recorder would transmit data about the vehicle's speed at any given time. It would also record and provide information about maintenance, service history, and responsible personnel.
Murkomen emphasized the importance of integrating these systems with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and allowing relevant government ministries access to the data. By doing so, any authorized entity could easily monitor the vehicle's location and other vital details. The dashboard cameras were to be installed both in front and at the rear of each vehicle.
Furthermore, Murkomen highlighted the need for all Saccos (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations) to participate in the application. This would enable parents and guardians to track school buses transporting their children in real-time, ensuring their safety. The application would provide information about the vehicle's location, speed, and driver details.
Regarding the cost of implementing these regulations, Murkomen assured the public that the dashboard cameras would not exceed Ksh30,000. He stressed that investing in these safety measures would ultimately save lives.
To facilitate the smooth implementation of the regulations, Murkomen announced that the Ministry would establish markets located away from the roads. This would create opportunities for vendors while reducing congestion on the streets. He estimated that the entire process would be completed within six months.
The Transport CS also emphasized the mandatory inspection of all PSVs, along with a review of inspection frequency. Referring to the tragic Londiani junction incident, he mentioned that the involved trailer had inspection issues in Rwanda but was still allowed to enter the country. To prevent such occurrences, he expressed the intention to collaborate with his counterpart in Rwanda to establish standardized inspection and driver licensing standards across the East Africa Community (EAC).
In addition, Murkomen revealed that the government was finalizing the evaluation of tenders for installing speed cameras at various locations along the roads. These cameras would be accompanied by instant fines to enforce traffic regulations. Once a motorist was caught violating the rules, an immediate notification would be sent to their phone, prompting them to pay the fine. Repeat offenders would face the revocation of their licenses.
The introduction of these new regulations was prompted by a tragic incident in Londiani, Kericho County, where a truck collided with multiple matatus and an open-air market. This incident, along with previous accidents involving school buses and public service vehicles, compelled the government to take immediate action to improve road safety and hold accountable those responsible for maintaining and operating these vehicles.