The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has come under scrutiny following the installation of unmarked speed bumps along sections of Waiyaki Way, raising safety concerns among motorists and road users. Drivers have reported encountering the traffic-calming measures without prior warning signs or road markings, sparking public criticism and renewed debate over compliance with established road design and safety standards.
Motorists have argued that the sudden appearance of the bumps has led to abrupt braking, and near-miss incidents, particularly at night when the bumps are not visible. The situation is made worse by the absence of adequate signage and reflective markings which undermines that objective of bumps in enhancing road safety and instead exposes drivers to unnecessary risk.
The action has attradted critiscm from social media users after an X user @BeaumontWest posted a photo of ongoing road works for the installation of the bumps.
Barely a day after the bumps were installed, an X user @KenyanSays reported that an accident had occurred allegedly attributed to the said bumps
Further, a video emerged of vehicles driving at the scene where the speed bumps were installed showing vehicles almost flying after coming into contact wih the unmarked bumps.
KENHA and Speedbumps
In 2024, the Kenyan government, through the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), has initiated measures to standardize, audit, and, where necessary, remove non-compliant speed bumps, which have been blamed for accidents and vehicle damage.
The said audit was to ensure all necessary spped bumps on Kenyan roads meet the Kenya Standard KS 774:2000. Further, the plan was to ensure that only standardized bumps are being installed with proper, visible signage, pavement markings, and, in some cases, reflective cat-eye studs for safety.
It is ironic that the bumps being installed along Waiyaki Way fault al these plans announced by the Ministry of Transposrt and KENHA. Concerns have been raised that KENHA’s reaction to any road accident is to install even more speed bumps, thereby causing even more accidents and the cycle continues.
Further, at the time of posting of the article, KENHA had not reponded to the concerns raised by netizens despite their offical social media handles being tagged consistently.
We await KENHA’s response on the bumps and their cooments on the alleged resultant incidences and alleged accident.
Young Lawyer with a passion for vehicles.
Upcoming Motor Journalist.
L'écriture est ma passion.
Nissan Patrol Y 62 is the goal.
www.karimi.co.ke
karimi@spaceyamagari.com
