A Community-Led Response to a National Crisis

In a strategic effort to combat the high rate of road accident fatalities, the Makueni County government has partnered with St. John Ambulance to launch a critical first-aid and emergency response training program. The initiative targets boda boda operators, Community Health Promoters (CHPs), and local administrators, empowering them as first responders along the treacherous stretch of the Mombasa-Nairobi highway that traverses the county. This program was officially launched on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, EAT, as confirmed by Makueni's Health Chief Officer, Harvey Mbithi.

The intervention is a direct response to the alarming statistics associated with the highway. According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the 482-kilometre Mombasa-Nairobi highway is responsible for approximately 40% of the over 3,000 road accident deaths recorded annually in Kenya. Makueni County has frequently been the scene of tragic accidents, contributing to the national toll. The new program is founded on the principle that immediate medical assistance can significantly increase survival rates. “This project stems from one fundamental principle: that no Kenyan should perish on our roads due to delayed medical assistance,” a sentiment echoed by officials at the launch.

The National Context: A Rising Tide of Road Fatalities

The Makueni initiative is set against a backdrop of a worsening national road safety crisis. NTSA data reveals a consistent and tragic loss of life on Kenyan roads. Between January 1 and September 28, 2025, a total of 3,586 people died in road accidents nationwide, an increase from 3,495 during the same period in 2024. By the end of September 2025, total road fatalities had reached 3,397, with 17,270 people affected by crashes. Pedestrians and motorcyclists remain the most vulnerable groups, accounting for 1,285 and 858 deaths, respectively, in the first nine months of 2025.

The boda boda sector, a vital source of employment for over two million Kenyans, is a significant contributor to these grim statistics. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, 431 motorcycle-related fatalities were recorded, a 20% increase from the previous year. The economic cost of these accidents is staggering, estimated to be over KES 450 billion annually, representing about 3% of Kenya's GDP, as stated by NTSA Director General George Njau during the launch of the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028.

Strategic Interventions and Infrastructure

To support the training initiative, St. John Ambulance has established a fully equipped trauma facility in Emali township, a key location along the highway. This center, one of only two major trauma facilities along the entire Mombasa-Malaba corridor, will serve as a critical first point of care for accident victims. It is equipped with a standby ambulance to expedite response times. Makueni's Deputy Governor, Lucy Mulili, hailed the facility as a “game changer” for road safety in the region and committed to deploying more county emergency personnel to support its operations.

The training program itself is designed to be practical and impactful. Daniel Mwololo, chairman of a boda boda association in Sultan Hamud, is among the first cohort of trainees. He and other participants are being equipped with essential first aid skills to handle victims safely and effectively before professional medical help arrives. This local capacity-building is part of a broader national strategy. In February 2025, the NTSA announced a partnership with seven counties, including Makueni, to establish County Transport and Safety Committees aimed at devolving road safety management and integrating safety measures into local development plans.

Looking Ahead: A Shared Responsibility

The Makueni program reflects a growing consensus that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring multi-sectoral collaboration. The National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028, launched in April 2024, provides a comprehensive framework for these efforts, with a goal of reducing road fatalities by 50% by 2030. The plan emphasizes enforcement, education, and infrastructure improvements.

For residents of Makueni like Catherine Maliti, a Community Health Promoter whose husband survived a serious accident on the same highway, the initiative is deeply personal. Now a trained first responder, she is part of a growing network of community members empowered to prevent unnecessary deaths. The success of this program could serve as a model for other counties grappling with the devastating impact of road carnage, demonstrating that localized training and strategic partnerships can be a powerful tool in saving lives on Kenya's roads.