Africa-Press – Kenya. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, on Christmas Day, joined faithful at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Webuye, Bungoma County, using the festive occasion to raise alarm over the rising number of road accidents.
Addressing congregants during the Christmas celebrations, Wetang’ula revealed that Bungoma County alone had lost 16 people in two separate road accidents within the past two weeks, a trend he described as heartbreaking and largely preventable.
“As we celebrate Christmas, I ask Kenyans to pray for a family from Chevaywa that lost 12 relatives in a tragic accident along Mombasa Road last week, and another family from Ndivisi that lost four members in a crash at Mukhweya along the Eldoret–Malaba Road two days ago,” he said.
The Speaker noted that the festive season, which is traditionally a time for family reunions and joy, had instead turned into a period of mourning for many households due to road carnage.
He lamented that several families were unable to reunite with their loved ones during Christmas because of fatal crashes.
Wetang’ula urged motorists to exercise caution and strictly observe traffic rules, particularly as many Kenyans who missed Christmas celebrations upcountry were expected to travel in the coming days to welcome the New Year with their families.
“Road safety must be taken seriously. Everyone deserves to reach home safely,” he said, calling on drivers, pedestrians and passengers alike to take responsibility for their safety on the roads.
His remarks came amid alarming statistics released by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), which reported a sharp surge in road fatalities.
According to the authority, 25 people lost their lives in 16 separate crashes recorded on Tuesday alone.
The fatalities were reported across multiple counties, including Kakamega, Bungoma, Nakuru, Nyeri, Siaya, Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos, Narok, Kisii, Turkana, and Uasin Gishu.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NTSA said pedestrians and passengers bore the heaviest toll, accounting for eight deaths each. The crashes also claimed the lives of five motorcyclists, three pillion passengers and one driver.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Webuye East MP Martin Wamalwa dance during Christmas celebrations at at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Webuye, Bungoma County/SPU
Meanwhile, Wetang’ula welcomed President William Ruto’s decision to upgrade the busy Roroni–Eldoret–Malaba Road into a dual carriageway, saying the move would help ease traffic congestion and significantly reduce accidents along the highway, which serves as a major transport corridor.
Turning to employment, the Speaker encouraged young people to explore online and overseas job opportunities, noting that improved diplomatic relations had opened up more chances for Kenyans seeking work abroad.
He expressed concern that despite more than 120,000 Kenyans currently working in Dubai and over 85,000 in Qatar, very few were from Bungoma County.
“The Qatar government has offered 8,000 additional visas for job seekers. I challenge young people from this county to take advantage of these opportunities,” he said.
Wetang’ula added that the government was ready to support successful applicants by facilitating the processing of passports and assisting with travel costs.
