Road safety in Mombasa is expected to improve following the donation of vital traffic management equipment from the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP).
The equipment, comprising 300 reflective vests, 130 traffic cones, 30 warning lights, and 8 laptops equipped with speed radar software, will aid traffic police and the Mombasa County Inspectorate in managing and enforcing traffic regulations.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the County Inspectorate offices, Marcin Flieger, Program Manager for Road Policing Capacity Building at GRSP, said the laptops would support data collection from the speed guns donated to the county in May.
Also read: Mombasa County receives 8 speed guns in road safety push
“Part of our program involves delivering knowledge through training for officers from the Kenya Police Service and the Mombasa County Inspectorate. But we are also supporting both agencies with technical tools and equipment,” Flieger said.
“Some of the equipment, such as cones, high-visibility vests, and warning lights, will be used to secure and organize safety checkpoints. The main objective is to enable both agencies to conduct effective road policing operations, with a particular focus on speeding, the leading cause of road fatalities,” he added.
Mombasa County Executive Committee Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Governance, Daniel Manyala, welcomed the donation, saying it would play a crucial role in reducing road crashes and fatalities.
“This equipment will enhance traffic management in the county and go a long way in helping us keep our roads safer,” said Manyala, who also urged road users to adhere to traffic regulations.
Also present at the event was George Kashmiri, Coast Regional Traffic Enforcement Officer, who noted that the training and equipment provided to traffic officers had already begun to yield results.
“We’ve observed a reduction in road crashes across the county. It’s now possible to go an entire week without a single crash being reported. The additional equipment we received today will further enhance these gains,” said Kashmiri.
The donation is the result of a collaboration between the County Government of Mombasa, the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), and GRSP.
“We’ve partnered with the National Police to strengthen Mombasa County’s capacity to handle road crashes and manage traffic effectively. This partnership ensures we serve Mombasa residents efficiently in all matters of traffic enforcement,” said Charles Changawa, Mombasa County Deputy Director of Inspectorate.