By Eddah Waithaka,
A total of 2,384 people were killed and 5,581 seriously injured, according to data from the National Police Service.
This is between May 2022 to October 2023. Five of the main roads in Nairobi have been identified as ‘highways of death’.
Thika Super Highway, Mombasa, Kangundo, Outer Ring and Jogoo roads have been described as the most dangerous roads in Kenya for motorcyclists and their passengers.
According to the report that was produced by the National Helmet Wearing Coalition in conjunction with the Motorcycle Initiative, Transaid and the UK-based FiA Foundation, 2,031 escaped with minor injuries.
On the one hand, data from the National Police Service show that in a 17-month period, 9,996 people were directly involved in motorcycle accidents.
The report, entitled ‘Fare Price; An Investigation into the Health Costs of Motorcycle Taxi Crashes in Kenya’, was produced by the National Helmet Wearing Coalition in collaboration with the Motorcycle Initiative, Transaid and the UK-based FiA Foundation, was set out to investigate the health costs of bodaboda accidents and also understand helmet usage levels amongst operators and pillion passengers.
During the period under review, 249 victims sustained head injuries and spent almost Sh3 million each on treatment, while 149 sustained limb injuries and spent almost Sh1.6 million each.
Survivors who had multiple injuries were 128 with each spending up to Sh1 million on medical expenses.
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Twenty-five of the victims who sustained abdominal injuries each spent Sh320,740 on medical costs while seven suffered thoracic injury, each of them spending Sh109,475 on hospital bills.
This is according to data obtained from hospitals.
The report also explained that the reality for many patients is that they do not have the money to pay for treatment and therefore Mama Lucy Hospital regularly waives the fee.
The social care department also follows up with patients, locates relatives where necessary, organizes transport and attempts to obtain payment from patients.
Helmet use among pillion passengers was significantly lower than among riders, with only 15% of the 1,385 passengers observed wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle.
Most of the pillion riders do not use helmets as they say they are dirty. Many of the women do not wear helmets for health reasons, they say, and the drivers do not offer helmets. Most of the riders have only one helmet on their motorcycles,” the report said.
NTSA Director General George Njau revealed how former President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the manufacture of ‘user-friendly’ helmets to encourage boda boda riders to wear them.
“The former Head of state gave directives for manufacture of a helmet that is durable, fashionable and easier to the pockets for the users. People would say, we don’t want yellow colour, I think they are tormented by that colour,” Njau said.
Margie Peden, Director of Global Injury at the George Institute and Senior Research Fellow at Imperial College London, urged the private sector to step up and provide free helmets for riders and passengers with every motorcycle.
“Why should the onus only be on the user? Seatbelts come with a vehicle – you don’t have to pay more for them, so why don’t helmets come with motorcycles?” he posed.
