Long-distance trucks and passenger service vehicles will soon be fitted with telematics devices in their cabins as part of a government plan to address rising road accidents.

The gadgets will monitor vehicle performance and driver behaviour in real time, with data transmitted to help enforce road safety rules.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir told the National Assembly Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on Thursday that the new measures are aimed at reducing fatigue-related crashes, especially involving drivers who spend excessive hours on the road. He said rest zones for truck drivers will also be established along major highways to ensure they have safe places to stop.

“It is unfortunate that we have lost so many lives in the recent week. I send my condolences to the affected families,” said Chirchir. “We are going to employ more technology to assist drivers on the road. For those driving for more hours, we will deploy telematics in the drivers’ cabins.”

He explained that some drivers work far beyond recommended hours because of a lack of proper parking facilities, leading to exhaustion and loss of concentration.

“We appreciate that sometimes, if there is a parking, the driver could possibly park and if not, you tend to keep pushing yourself, yet you are tired,” he said.

The CS said vehicle inspections will be intensified to ensure all vehicles, lorries, and buses are roadworthy. The ministry is developing regulations to allow the inspection process to be franchised, enabling licensed private operators across the country to conduct checks.

“We are working on regulations which will allow inspection of vehicles to be franchised, licensed and done by those who are licensed in every corner of the country so that we do not have vehicles that are having challenges or unroadworthy on our roads,” he said.

Chirchir stressed that road safety is a shared responsibility and called on all road users to be cautious.

“We have tended to apportion responsibility where pedestrians, boda bodas or motorists are careless, and sometimes we cross the roads without looking to confirm there are no vehicles and expect the drivers to take care of us. We want to urge Kenyans to exercise caution in various spheres from pedestrians to boda bodas, cyclists to drivers,” he said.

He revealed that the government is working with the Kenya Red Cross Society to map and review all dangerous black spots nationwide. High-priority areas will receive upgrades such as road widening, similar to the planned expansion of the Nithi bridge.

According to crash data, 2,933 fatalities were recorded between January and August 10 this year, with at least 80 deaths reported in the past few days alone.

This month’s toll includes over 40 deaths in multiple accidents, among them the Kisumu tragedy where 26 mourners died when a bus overturned at the Coptic roundabout, and the Naivasha collision that killed eight in a crash involving a Kenya Pipeline Company bus and a cargo train.

Chirchir said a multi-agency team is conducting safety audits on affected road segments to identify weaknesses and recommend urgent corrective measures.

The team is expected to complete its work within a week and present technical proposals for immediate implementation to prevent further loss of lives.