President Kenyatta says all traffic work should be left to police officers.
The move is aimed at ending road carnage.
The president noted that about 80 per cent of road accidents are caused by careless driving and disregard of the traffic laws.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered the National Transport and Safety Authority to withdraw all its officers from the roads in a move aimed at ending road carnage.
President Kenyatta said all traffic work should be left to police officers.
Speaking during the funeral service of three African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) bishops who died in a grisly accident at Wamumu on the Embu-Nairobi road on December 29, Mr Kenyatta said he was concerned by the increased deaths on the roads.
The funeral service of the late bishops Philip Kubai (Ntonyiri), Stanley Karuru (Igembe Central) and Moses Ntoeruri (Igembe South) was held at Maili Tatu Grounds in Igembe Central.
Mr Kenyatta at the same time called on Kenyans to take responsibility for ensuring roads were safe.
“I agree that road accidents have been on the rise and the government will work to ensure we minimise the accidents.
"We have decided that all NTSA officers withdraw from the roads and leave traffic work to the police. We want to see if we can restore order on the roads,” the president said.
Careless driving
The president noted that about 80 per cent of road accidents are caused by careless driving and disregard of the traffic laws.
“The government will play its part but Kenyans must also play their part. As a passenger, you have a responsibility to ensure the driver observes the rules.
"Passengers should not be the one urging drivers to speed,” he said.
While eulogising the deceased bishops as leaders who sought to unite the church, Archbishop Njoroge noted that current road safety measures have failed.
"Accidents do not occur, they are caused. Despite several measures including the establishment of the National Transport Safety Authority have not yielded results. Something else must be done. We cannot expect different results by doing things the same way," the Archbishop said.
Failing its mandate
He faulted NTSA for failing in its mandate and urged road users to observe discipline to restore sanity on the roads.
"I feel NTSA officers are behaving like traffic police officers. This was not the intention of the government in setting up NTSA," the bishop said.
The bishops died on the spot when their vehicle collided head-on with an oncoming car as they were heading to Meru from a church meeting in Thika.
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