NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has intensified its enforcement campaign against unsafe road-crossing practices, arresting more pedestrians for failing to use designated footbridges despite repeated public safety warnings.
The latest arrests were made on Tuesday morning at the General Motors (GM) footbridge in Nairobi, where pedestrians were detained after crossing the highway at undesignated points instead of using the nearby footbridge.
The operation forms part of a broader campaign by the road safety agency aimed at reducing pedestrian-related road crashes and improving traffic flow on some of the country’s busiest highways.
The latest crackdown follows similar enforcement operations conducted at Buruburu Interchange, where 35 pedestrians were arrested for crossing the road outside designated pedestrian facilities and obstructing the smooth movement of traffic.
NTSA said the exercise is intended to discourage risky behaviour that continues to place pedestrians and motorists in danger.
According to the authority, crossing roads at unauthorised locations significantly increases the risk of fatal and serious road traffic accidents, particularly along high-speed urban highways.
The agency also noted that illegal road crossings force motorists to brake abruptly or swerve unexpectedly, creating additional hazards for other road users and contributing to traffic congestion.
“The Authority urges pedestrians to use designated footbridges /crossings at all times as crossing in undesignated areas not only endangers their lives but puts also other road users at risk and disrupts traffic,” NTSA said.
Road safety experts have consistently identified pedestrians as one of the most vulnerable categories of road users in Kenya, with many fatalities occurring on highways where footbridges and pedestrian crossings already exist but remain underutilised.
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The renewed enforcement campaign signals a shift toward stricter compliance measures as authorities seek to improve road discipline and reduce preventable crashes involving pedestrians.
NTSA has indicated that similar operations will continue in areas identified as road safety hotspots, urging members of the public to prioritise their safety by using designated pedestrian infrastructure whenever crossing busy roads.
