The Ministry of Transport is embarking on an extensive nationwide road inspection campaign, placing special emphasis on the assessment of speed bumps. In a statement released to the media, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) Director General Silas Kinoti announced on Saturday, September 2, that this initiative's central goal is to comprehensively evaluate all speed bumps across the country.
The primary objective of this extensive exercise is to ensure that every speed bump aligns with the government's established standards for road safety. Kinoti elaborated, stating, "The Ministry of Roads and Transport through the State Department for Roads has initiated a comprehensive inventory of all road bumps across the country with the intention of standardizing them."
This large-scale assessment will be carried out collaboratively by various road agencies, including the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA). However, the authorities have not yet announced a specific timeframe for the completion of this nationwide evaluation.
The significance of this initiative is underscored by the current state of road safety in the country, with the government actively taking measures to curb the alarming rate of road accidents. According to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), over 2,100 Kenyans lost their lives in road accidents between January and June of the current year.
The NTSA has previously highlighted the role of unauthorized speed bumps in contributing to road accidents in the country. Former Acting Director General Charles Obuon, in February 2017, observed that individuals across Kenya were installing their own speed bumps in an attempt to deter speeding.
To address this issue, the Roads Act expressly mandates that only authorized road agencies are permitted to install speed bumps. Violators of this law can face a fine of Ksh100,000 or imprisonment for up to one year. The relevant section of the Act reads, "Except as provided in subsection (2), no person or body may erect, construct, or lay, or establish any structure or other thing, on or over or below the surface of a road reserve or land in a building-restricted area."
Speed bumps are strategically installed on roads to control vehicle speeds within designated areas. These bumps come in various sizes and forms, with smaller ones, known as rumble strips, designed to create vibrations when driven over, alerting motorists to reduce their speed. The government's commitment to standardizing speed bumps aims to enhance road safety and reduce the risk of accidents caused by inconsistent road infrastructure.