AfrInsight Consulting

28/03/2024

26/03/2024

TIME TO ACT ON THE MANY CASES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS IN THIS COUNTRY

There are many concerns around rising cases of accidents on our roads. The quick solutions suggested by the CS Interior Kithure Kindiki , CS Transport Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen , National Police Service and NTSA KENYA include:

1. Mandatory re-testing of drivers as a condition for license renewal.

2. Close working relationship between NPS and NTSA on the roads to arrest those breaking traffic rules.

3. Crack-down on unroadworthy vehicles.

While I have no issues with the measures, I feel that the top policy makers and law enforcers are publicly admitting system failures. For example:

1. Licensing of drivers: mandatory tests are performed after training before any prospective driver obtains a license to drive on our roads. What then happens when the drivers go to the roads? Is it that the licenses are issued without the driving students being taught properly in schools? Is it that the driving schools are not properly regulated hence they can't apply professional practices when training drivers? Is that those who are testing the drivers are compromised and/or incompetent to handle the first testing? What will change with the re-testing? How will this re-testing address the system failure?

2. Traffic police arrest motorists and drivers on a daily basis? What happens to the offenders? Are they really charged or the enhanced crackdowns will simply expand the net for the law enforcers? How do we deal with the corruption on the roads and even in the courts?

3. We talk of unroadworthy vehicles but we are all aware that all vehicles over 4 years of age must go through mandatory inspection by NTSA? How do these unroadworthy vehicles pass inspection tests? Are the inspection units equipped with the right tools and the right people or they're just but toll centres and hub to keep the incompetent busy as they enrich themselves?

4. The roads: are they able to handle the traffic level in this country? Are they always well marked and in proper shape to minimise occurence of the accidents?

5. Tools: do the law enforcers have the right tools to deal with the offences? Are they sufficiently motivated to work professionally or are they just getting opportunities to enrich themselves? We have heard of many cases of crackdowns with very minimal impact.

As commonly said, don't treat symptoms. Go to the root cause of the problems and start from there. My advice to the team would be to focus on:

1. You must focus on uprooting corruption at NTSA licensing and inspection units and at the Traffic Police Department. DO NOT MAKE RULES TO ENRICH LAW ENFORCERS BUT TO DEAL WITH THE CARNAGE THAT'S GETTING OUT OF HAND.

2. All the enforcement officers should be retrained and refreshed all the time on traffic rules, first aid, ethics, etc.

3. Expand the roads, mark them properly, create enough room for emergencies, among others.

4. Equip the inspection units abd the police with proper tools to detect unroadworthy vehicles, traffic offenders.

5. Improve the remuneration of the law enforcers to boost their morale.

6. Increase Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) monitoring on the roads to reduce the level of corruption.

7. Enhance inspection at the driving schools to ensure they uphold the highest standards possible.

8. Invest more time on public education and creation of awareness.

9. Invest in mobile ambulances on major highways. Even with the best managed traffic, accidents may still occur so authorities must strive to save lives.

10. Digitise the fining and punishment offenders on the spot plus uploading accident history on their licenses with suspension after losing more than 50% of the points accumulated.

11. Get rid of self interest by police through breakdowns where they mint millions.

31/12/2023

Four most memorable things as the curtain falls on 2023, from my personal perspective:

1. Economics: Three African countries succumbed to debt trap that continues to haunt the African Continent - Ghana, Zambia, and Ethiopia. Hopefully we have learnt lessons and the continent will embrance positive turnaround measures.

2. Religion: Pope of the Roman Catholic, the Pontiff, shocked everyone with his statement allowing Catholic priests "outside normal church rituals to bless same s*x marriages". This left everyone in surprised but I would wish to thank all Catholic Church faithfuls for standing firm on observing the law, breach of the Church doctines, and sticking to the Catholic teachings.

3. Sports: Many congratulations to maestro Lionnel Messi for winning the unprecedented 8th Balon D'or. Kudos to Arsenal for a strong charge towards winning their first EPL after 20 years. Before I forget, let me congratulate K*T for winning a joining bid to host 2027 CAF competitions. Many congratulations again to Kelvin Kiptum who smashed Eliud Kipchoge's world marathon record. Let’s forget South Africa for retaining world rugby title. A lot of thanks to Manchester United for keeping everyone happy in 2023.

4. Tax and legal: Kenyans got subjected towards one of most harsh taxation regimes since independence. The infamous Finance Act 2023, Universal Health Care, and Affordable Housing levy, amongst many other unpopular revenue generating measures were imposed on the population against their will. Kudos to all Kenyans for remaining resilient at increased taxes, higher shelf prices, loss of jobs, higher fuel pump prices, and generally high cost of living.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE