Economy

Kenyans to no longer apply for driving licences directly

DNCOASTSAGETY1311A

A road safety campaign underway in Mombasa at the Bamburi Cement on November 13, 2014. The cement firm together with transport stakeholders will carry out countrywide road safety campaign over the festive season. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA |

Only registered driving schools will be allowed to apply for licences on behalf of their trainees, Transport and Infrastructure Principal Secretary Nduva Muli said Monday.

The guideline is among a raft of measures that the ministry is implementing ahead of the festive season to curb road carnage in the country.

At the moment, individuals are free to apply for their driving licences after passing driving test.

“In Kenya, 85 per cent of accidents are caused by human error mainly because drivers are not trained on best safety practice. We need to employ tough rules if the lives of Kenyans are to be saved,” Mr Muli said during safety campaign by Bamburi Cement and other transport stakeholders dubbed 'Jitunze Uishi.'

“The new driving school regulations currently with the Attorney-General will require that driving schools meet certain minimum standards and deliver a specific curriculum,” he added.

The Transport ministry says it has adopted tough measures to ensure that the number of people lost on Kenyan roads drops significantly.

Additionally, the PS encouraged Saccos to self-regulate to avoid constant brush with the law adding that errant Saccos compromising road safety would be deregistered.

During the launch of the safety campaign, transporters were also encouraged to institutionalise safety standards and create road safety awareness within their organisations.

“Safety on our roads comes at a cost and transporters need to allocate resources to raise the awareness within the organization,” said Bundotich Kiprop, the executive director of logistics firm Buzeki Group.

The countrywide road safety campaign will be run over the festive season, when high rates of accidents are usually recorded.

Bamburi Cement has injected Sh3 million towards Jitunze Uishi drive and it plans to launch successive road safety campaigns after the festivities.

According to the latest statistics by the ministry, this year’s accident fatalities have fallen by 10 per cent with 25 per cent decline recorded in the public service sector. As of December 5, 2668 lives have been lost this year alone.