Hello and welcome to the Thursday edition of the Evening Brief Newsletter where motorists will now be cruising nicely.
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Breaking News
5 people have been confirmed dead and three others injured after a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) plane they were travelling in crashed and caught fire shortly after take-off from Cheptulel Boys Secondary School.
Preliminary reports indicate that the plane was carrying senior military officials.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, however, cautioned Kenyans from speculating on the KDF chopper crash.
What Govt is Saying: "Dear fellow Kenyans. An official communication concerning the military aircraft crash shall be issued soon. Let’s avoid any speculation whatsoever at this critical juncture."
State House is preparing to give a comprehensive statement. Visit Kenyans.co.ke for more developments.
New Speed Limit for Motorists
With growing concerns over the rising cases of accidents on the road, the government has unveiled plans to review speed limits for highways and roads in the country.
As detailed in the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028, three new speed limits have been proposed for areas that are prone to accidents.
For instance, in the new proposal, all motorists driving in areas where there could be collisions with pedestrians will have to drive at 30 kilometres per hour.
These areas include villages, school zones and commercial areas.
The 30km/hr will also apply to areas where children are most likely to come into contact with traffic such as road crossing areas.
On the other hand, a 50km/hr speed limit will be applied in areas that are prone to side-impact collisions. This includes intersections and road junctions.
Equally, along undivided rural highways across the country, motorists will be required to maintain their speed at 70km/hr. The report highlighted that such roads are prone to head-on collisions.
"A comprehensive speed limit-setting reform project will be initiated, including an action plan for safer speed limits in Kenya over a 5-year period, including detailed changes required to legal requirements and processes in support of implementing lower-speed limits and establishing safer default rural and urban speed limits," read the report in part.
The recent proposals have been informed by findings by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on the causes of road accidents in the country.
Meanwhile, the government notes that it will leverage technology in enforcing speed limits on the roads. This will be done through the installation of speed cameras that can detect those going past the set limit.
While instant fines are expected to be rolled out within the next 90 days, traffic enforcement cameras will be installed by the end of the year.
New Rules for Car Imports
On the other hand, the government is also set to introduce new standards for all vehicles imported into the country.
The new standards are aimed at outlining various standards that vehicles need to meet with regard to the materials used in manufacturing the vehicles and the safety systems installed in them.
Apart from the exterior, the new standards also seek to stipulate the standards for the interior vehicle features such as seat belts.
The eight new standards include; frontal impact protection, electronic stability control, side impact protection, pedestrian front protection, seat-belts, seat-belt anchorages and child restraints.
Motorcycle anti-lock braking systems will also be set for all motorcycles imported to the country.
"The requirements for the import and construction of vehicles into Kenya do not adequately cover safety requirements set out in UN vehicle safety regulations, and the key standards within those regulations are promoted by the WHO.
"These UN standards address the key crash risks in Kenya such as frontal and side-impact crashes, pedestrian crashes and motorcycle crashes. As new motor vehicles entering the fleet are likely to stay in use for 20 years or more, any delay in applying international vehicle safety standards will have a negative safety impact in Kenya for decades to come," read the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028.
Here are the top stories for the day;
KDF chopper crashes in West Pokot.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja reveals plans to construct a nightclub at the renovated Uhuru Park.
JKIA named among the best airports in Africa.
Tycoons flee Kileleshwa as satellite towns record remarkable growth in land value and prices.
Read the interesting story of a Kenyan lodge that has been named among the best new 100 hotels in the world.
This newsletter was written by Washington Mito and edited by Brian Muuo.
Derrick Kubasu contributed to the content.
Graphics prepared by Adongo Kyalo and Ronnie Mbugua.
