The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the National Police Service have intensified enforcement against pedestrians crossing roads at undesignated points, with dozens of offenders arrested at the General Motors (GM) footbridge in Nairobi.
The latest operation on Wednesday morning saw more pedestrians arrested for failing to use the designated footbridge and instead crossing the busy highway, an offence authorities say obstructs the free flow of traffic and endangers lives. The suspects are expected to be arraigned in court.
The arrests come a day after 38 pedestrians were apprehended at the same location for similar offences. According to the NTSA, those arrested on Tuesday will also face charges of obstructing the free flow of traffic.
The enforcement exercise forms part of a wider road safety campaign targeting pedestrians who ignore designated crossing points despite the presence of footbridges.
NTSA said crossing roads at undesignated locations not only exposes pedestrians to the risk of being hit by vehicles but also creates safety hazards for motorists and contributes to traffic congestion.
The authority urged members of the public to use designated footbridges and pedestrian crossings at all times to improve road safety and reduce accidents.
The latest crackdown comes amid renewed efforts by road safety agencies to reduce pedestrian fatalities, which continue to account for a significant share of road deaths in Kenya. Authorities have warned that enforcement operations will continue in areas where pedestrians routinely ignore footbridges and marked crossings.
