NTSA arrests 23 pedestrians for failing to use designated Thika Road footbridge

Nairobi, Kenya — The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has apprehended 23 individuals for allegedly straying from designated footbridges while traversing Thika Superhighway, as part of intensified efforts to curtail unsafe pedestrian practices on major Nairobi highways. The apprehensions transpired during a coordinated enforcement effort at the Fig Tree Footbridge, which saw the offenders penalized for disregarding the designated crossing facilities.

The 23 individuals will be arrayed in court, signaling a stern stance against pedestrian law violations in zones equipped with footbridges and other crossing facilities. NTSA cautioned that traversing the highway at unauthorized points poses grave risks to pedestrians, endangering motorists and other road users, as well as impeding traffic flow.

NTSA emphasized that crossing at undesignated areas endangers pedestrians, jeopardizes other road users, and disrupts traffic. The Fig Tree operation forms a part of a wider NTSA and the National Police Service initiative, targeting pedestrians who violate highway-crossing regulations despite the availability of footbridges. Such crackdowns have recently been extended to numerous high-risk locales in Nairobi, including Thika Road, Eastern Bypass, Pipeline-Transami, Buruburu, and areas surrounding Nyayo Stadium.

In an earlier enforcement on August 10, over 50 pedestrians were apprehended at the Allsops footbridge on Thika Road for crossing the highway instead of utilizing the designated facility. NTSA has also conducted similar operations at the GSU Training School area on the Eastern Bypass, where pedestrians were penalized for crossing the highway despite the presence of a footbridge.

The escalated operations aim to bolster adherence to pedestrian traffic regulations and diminish collisions involving vulnerable road users. Pedestrians continue to be the most vulnerable road users in Kenya, especially along high-speed highways, where crossing outside designated points can result in fatalities. However, the enforcement drive has also reignited discourse on the accessibility, safety, and maintenance of pedestrian infrastructure in Nairobi.

Concerns previously voiced by pedestrians encompass poor lighting, insecurity, subpar maintenance, sanitation issues, and inaccessibility at certain footbridges, particularly for elderly individuals and persons with disabilities who may struggle with structures lacking ramps, lifts, or other accessibility features. Nonetheless, NTSA remains adamant that pedestrians must utilize designated crossing facilities where accessible.

The authority reiterated that enforcement would persist, complemented by public awareness campaigns, urging pedestrians to utilize footbridges and designated crossing points to safeguard themselves and fellow road users. "Together, let us foster safer roads and responsible road use," NTSA concluded.