The Nakuru-Nairobi Highway records high numbers of road crashes each year. National Transport and Safety Authority data indicates that 3,397 people died in road accidents across Kenya in the first nine months of 2025. Pedestrians account for 1,285 of those deaths, motorcyclists for 858, passengers for 568, and drivers for 309. In Nakuru County, black spots such as Gilgil, Kinungi, Salgaa, Sachangwan, and Kariandusi contribute to many fatalities. Recent incidents include a September 28, 2025, crash near Kariandusi where 13 people died after a matatu collided with a lorry. Another event on the same day at Elementaita claimed six lives in an ambulance accident. These figures highlight the need for targeted interventions on the 170-kilometer stretch, which serves as a key link to western Kenya and neighboring countries.

Officials from the Nakuru County Transport and Safety Committee met on October 21, 2025, to review data and develop measures to lower crash rates. The session brought together representatives from the county’s infrastructure department, Red Cross, NTSA, Kenya National Highways Authority, St. John’s Ambulance, Kericho Driving School, and Kenya Scouts Association. County Committee Executive Member for Infrastructure Eng. Michael Kamau led the county delegation. Participants examined accident reports from the past year and identified patterns, such as speeding, fatigue, and poor vehicle maintenance, as common causes.

The committee approved a plan for ongoing education programs aimed at road users. These programs target cyclists and pedestrians, groups that face high risks due to limited protection and shared road space with heavy vehicles. Sessions will cover rules for crossing highways, helmet use for cyclists, and visibility aids like reflective clothing. The county will coordinate with NTSA to hold monthly workshops at high-risk points, such as Kariandusi and Gilgil. Schools along the route, including those in Njoro and Naivasha sub-counties, will integrate safety modules into their curricula through partnerships with the Kenya Scouts Association. Kericho Driving School will offer free refresher courses for drivers, focusing on defensive techniques for the hilly sections near Mau Summit.

Stakeholders agreed on multi-agency collaboration to manage crash volumes. NTSA will increase patrols during peak hours, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., when traffic peaks with commuters and freight trucks. Kenya National Highways Authority will install additional signage for speed limits and no-overtaking zones at black spots. St. John’s Ambulance and Red Cross will station response teams at fixed locations, equipped with trauma kits and extraction tools, to cut response times from the current average of 45 minutes to under 20. The group also plans joint audits of public service vehicles to enforce maintenance standards, building on NTSA’s 2025 inspections that flagged over 2,000 vehicles for defects.

A key outcome includes support services for those affected by crashes. The committee will establish counseling centers at county hospitals in Nakuru and Naivasha, staffed by trained psychologists from the Red Cross. These centers will provide sessions for survivors and families, addressing trauma from events like the April 2025 Limuru crash that killed seven. Physical rehabilitation programs will link with local clinics to supply aids such as crutches and wheelchairs. Funding for these services will come from county allocations and grants from development partners, with an initial budget of Sh10 million for 2026.

Following the meeting, Eng. Michael Kamau addressed the press to discuss infrastructure upgrades. He noted the government’s progress on the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway project, approved by Cabinet in March 2025. The 170-kilometer section will expand from a single carriageway to a four-lane dual setup, with six lanes in high-traffic areas. Construction started in August 2025 after resolving a prior contract with a French firm, now handled through a public-private partnership with Chinese contractors like China Road and Bridge Corporation. The Sh90 billion initiative, set for completion by July 2027, includes toll stations to recover costs over 30 years. Kamau explained that the dual lanes will separate oncoming traffic, reduce overtaking risks, and add barriers at curves. Studies predict a 40 percent drop in accidents once finished, based on similar upgrades on the Nairobi-Mombasa road.

This project forms part of the larger Nairobi-Nakuru-Malaba corridor, vital for trade with Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan. It will include service areas for rest stops to combat driver fatigue, a factor in 30 percent of crashes per NTSA reports. The committee views the upgrade as complementary to local efforts, as it addresses design flaws like narrow shoulders that force pedestrians into traffic.

Nakuru County’s actions fit into national road safety goals, which aim to cut fatalities by 50 percent by 2030 under the UN Decade of Action. The county reports 450 deaths from road crashes in 2024, with projections for 2025 showing a slight rise without intervention. By combining education, enforcement, and infrastructure, officials seek to reverse this trend. Residents can access safety resources through the county’s transport department hotline or NTSA’s app for reporting hazards.