The perilous dash across speeding highways by uniformed children is set to become a thing of the past. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced the strict enforcement of a transport policy mandating the construction of footbridges for all schools located along major carriageways.

Speaking during a tour of schools in Murang’a County, the CS declared that the safety of learners is no longer negotiable. The directive comes amid rising concern over pedestrian fatalities on the newly expanded Kenol-Marua dual carriageway, where students have been forced to dodge vehicles speeding on sloppy terrains.

"A Matter of Urgency"

"We cannot have modern highways that are death traps for our children," Ogamba stated, flanked by Ministry officials. "This policy ensures that infrastructure development does not come at the cost of young lives. We are engaging the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to prioritize these overpasses immediately."

The CS’s intervention follows an impassioned appeal by local leaders regarding a school situated near a dangerous slope on the dual carriage. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-1)Despite the erection of speed bumps, motorists continue to flout limits, leaving learners vulnerable. "We need a safe way for these children to get to school without putting their lives in danger," a local MP emphasized.

The Wider Crackdown

This directive aligns with a broader aggressive stance by KeNHA to reclaim pedestrian safety:

• Clearing the Decks: KeNHA has simultaneously launched a nationwide crackdown to evict hawkers and street families from existing footbridges. The authority notes that encroachment has rendered many bridges unusable, forcing pedestrians back onto the highways.
• Infrastructure Audit: A multi-agency team involving the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) and the police is currently auditing all footbridges, starting with the Thika Superhighway, to ensure they serve their intended purpose—safe passage, not marketplaces.

For parents in Murang’a and across the country, the implementation of this policy cannot come soon enough. The promise is clear: the journey to education should not be a journey through the valley of the shadow of death.