Matatus, buses to be fitted with dashboard cameras to tame road carnage, says Murkomen

The government plans to introduce dashboard cameras, and telematics on all Public Service Vehicles including school buses.

This is in a bid to avert road accidents and monitor traffic.

According to Roads, Transport and Public Works Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, the gadgets will be linked to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

“The gadgets can be used for security purposes as well as to provide data in case of carjacking or accidents. Their recordings are an important source of information that could also be used to fight roadside bribery, particularly in the matatu industry,” Murkomen said.

He noted that there will be no law violated when the cameras are installed on the dashboards of PSVs.

“In fact, it is a good addition to a vehicle’s security features but, as of now, there is no requirement for motorists to install or not install them,” said the CS when addressing mourners at Londiani Trading center in Kericho County during the requiem mass for 53 people who died during the tragic road accident last Friday.

Murkomen further said cameras will be fitted at all accident black spots across the country to monitor and help minimize accidents.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure all drivers undergo retests to ensure safety on the roads, urging citizens to take responsibility.

Murkomen regretted that if only drivers, pedestrians, and other road users would obey traffic laws, the country wouldn’t be mourning the deaths of so many people.

He said the government will do all it takes to minimize road carnage, saying it was applying different strategies that will yield results in terms of road safety.

“We understand as a government that Kenyans are interested in the results of all the strategies we are putting in place to minimize road carnage. We will issue new regulations.”

The Transport CS said the government was determined to remove all roadside traders from the highways, adding that customers will follow them to the markets.

According to Murkomen, the government was mulling over the idea of constructing dual carriage roads.