The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has arrested 35 pedestrians in Buruburu, Nairobi, for crossing the road without using the designated footbridge, as part of an intensified crackdown on unsafe pedestrian conduct.
According to the authority, the operation focused on pedestrians crossing the busy Buruburu Interchange without utilizing the footbridge — a practice it says disrupts traffic flow and endangers lives. NTSA confirmed that all those arrested would be taken to court to answer to the charges.
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This latest enforcement action follows closely behind a nationwide campaign launched days earlier by NTSA, in partnership with the National Police Service (NPS) and Nairobi City County, aimed at cracking down on pedestrians who bypass designated crossing points. On July 21, the authority reported arresting 22 pedestrians at the busy Allsops area for crossing the road instead of using the footbridge provided there.
NTSA said the crackdown is part of a broader push to enhance road safety and cut down on pedestrian deaths and injuries across the country, reiterating that crossing outside designated pedestrian facilities not only puts individuals at risk but also interferes with the smooth flow of traffic on major roads.
The joint operation with police and county officials also includes a public education component, with officers working to inform pedestrians about the importance of using footbridges and official crossing points.
The authority has voiced growing concern over pedestrian deaths nationwide, revealing that pedestrians made up 38 percent of all road traffic crashes recorded as of June 30, 2026 — a figure it described as alarming and one that calls for collective action from all stakeholders to address.
NTSA continues to encourage pedestrians to use footbridges and marked crossings wherever available, stressing that such compliance plays a key role in cutting down road accidents. The authority further noted that road crashes carry a heavy human and economic toll on the country, costing Kenya an estimated five percent of its GDP each year.
The Buruburu operation forms part of NTSA’s wider #StepsToZeroPedestrianDeaths initiative, which brings together public awareness campaigns, improved road infrastructure, better facilities for non-motorized transport, safety audits, and targeted enforcement in high-risk zones — all aimed at eliminating pedestrian deaths nationwide.
