NTSA arrests pedestrians in fresh footbridge crackdown as jaywalking enforcement intensifies

Nairobi, Kenya — The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has ramped up its enforcement against pedestrians who choose to cross major highways at unauthorized locations, particularly along the Eastern Bypass. Authorities conducted a recent operation in the GSU Training School vicinity, arresting several individuals for disregarding the footbridge that was available.

NTSA spokespersons announced that the arrested pedestrians will face legal charges for their actions. The organization emphasized that crossing highways outside of designated points not only poses a significant danger to the pedestrians but also endangers other road users and disrupts traffic flow.

The Eastern Bypass crackdown is part of a broader effort by NTSA and the National Police Service to clamp down on pedestrian violations across Nairobi. In a similar enforcement drive last week, over fifty pedestrians were apprehended for their refusal to utilize the designated footbridge at Allsops footbridge along Thika Road. Earlier, NTSA officers also arrested pedestrians at the Pipeline-Transami crossing for the same offense.

Since July, enforcement teams have been deployed in numerous high-risk areas, including Allsops, Buruburu, Nyayo Stadium, and Pipeline, where authorities aim to lower the incidence of pedestrian fatalities, which constitute nearly 38 percent of road crash fatalities in Kenya.

While NTSA advocates for the consistent use of footbridges and marked crossings to mitigate preventable deaths and injuries, the campaign has also highlighted issues concerning the safety and accessibility of some pedestrian bridges. Concerns have been raised about the poor state of some bridges, including issues like inadequate lighting, poor maintenance, and lack of proper sanitation.

Additionally, some pedestrians have complained about security concerns, hawker occupation of bridge sections, the absence of ramps or lifts for elderly or disabled individuals, and the challenge of navigating long staircases with heavy loads.

Despite these challenges, NTSA remains committed to ensuring that pedestrians adhere to designated crossing facilities. The authority urges the public to comply with traffic regulations, stating that enforcement operations will continue, complemented by public awareness campaigns, in their pursuit of improved road discipline, reduced congestion, and a decrease in pedestrian deaths on major Nairobi highways.