By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, April 7, 2026 - Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki has urged the Judiciary to lift orders halting the use of speed cameras and allow the rollout of instant fines, warning that delayed enforcement is costing lives on Kenya’s roads.
Speaking Tuesday during an interdenominational requiem service at Kabiru-ini ASK Grounds in Nyeri Town Constituency, Kindiki said the government is ready to implement stricter road safety measures but requires judicial backing to act decisively.
The service honoured 16 people who died in a grisly road crash along the Nyeri–Nyahururu highway near Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) on March 28.
“We are requesting our Judiciary to support the government and the people of Kenya to save lives on our roads,” said Kindiki. “We need the orders freezing the use of speed cameras lifted so we can operationalize the new road safety programme, including instant fines for offending drivers.”
He blamed high speed for the majority of fatal accidents, saying enforcement remains the missing link in curbing road carnage.
“The government is keen on enhancing safety on our roads because we have lost very many people to accidents. High speed is a major contributor,” he said.
The crash, involving a Nissan matatu and a lorry transporting logs, left a trail of destruction, with most victims trapped inside the wreckage. The matatu, headed to Nyahururu from Nyeri, collided head-on with the oncoming lorry from Mweiga.
Thousands of mourners attended the requiem mass in an emotional tribute to the victims, as leaders renewed calls for urgent reforms to stem rising fatalities.
However, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) recently suspended the rollout of the Instant Fines Management System following a legal challenge, opting instead to prioritise public sensitization.
In a notice issued on March 27, NTSA said the suspension would allow for “enhanced public understanding of how instant fines are administered,” particularly under existing legal provisions governing minor traffic offences.
The authority acknowledged gaps in public awareness that could lead to confusion and misinformation, and said it would focus on educating motorists before reintroducing the system.
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Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga described the accident as a devastating blow to the county, noting it comes barely two years after another fatal crash at Solio claimed 11 lives along the same highway.
“As the father of this county, I want to say this is a big loss to us,” said Kahiga. “It is time we ask ourselves what we should do to avert such incidents in future.”
He confirmed that six people survived the crash and are recovering in various hospitals, including Nyeri County Referral Hospital and Outspan Hospital.
Kahiga added that the burial of the victims will be conducted over three days.
“It is a great loss to our country to lose such a huge number of people who ought to be contributing to nation-building,” he said.
Kindiki also cautioned leaders against politicizing moments of grief, noting the requiem service had remained free of political undertones.
“That should be our culture as leaders. Let us not bring politics into crucial social ceremonies, including church services,” he said.
He conveyed President William Ruto’s message of condolence, assuring families of continued government support, before visiting survivors of the crash.
The tragedy has once again thrust Kenya’s road safety crisis into the spotlight, piling pressure on authorities and the Judiciary to fast-track enforcement measures seen as critical in saving lives.
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