By Otula Owuor
In Kenya, a series of road crashes towards the beginning of September were strong indicators that the media in Africa should effectively inform their target audiences to take appropriate actions needed to curb deaths and injuries.
Sixteen people died in Kericho County, and another 12 at the notorious Tharaka Nithi bridge in Meru County, branded a national “death trap.”
However, other unique factors making Africa the continent with the highest number of road crashes include the booming importation of used vehicles and spare parts from Japan and some Middle Eastern countries.
The sale of used spare parts is a booming business in major cities. Those purchasing used spare parts in Nairobi are often given up to four days to return defective ones, although some shops have their own “hidden rules of buy as is.”
Kenya’s attempts to ban imports of some used vehicles and spare parts have not succeeded due to intense pressure from the importers, who are in a booming business directly employing thousands of people.
However, the often ignored aspect of road crashes is the minimal routine maintenance of roads. Roads are widely neglected in most if not all, African nations. The continent currently leads the world in sudden increase in road crushes.
The continent has become the world’s fastest market for used vehicles, according to the eye-opening World Health Organization’s Africa Regional Road Safety Status Report, which was recently launched in Nairobi. According to the Report, there is a rapid rise in Africa’s deaths and injuries linked to road crashes (see other articles).
In Africa, ministries in charge of roads at national and regional or county levels have lost their capacity – including equipment- to maintain both major and minor roads effectively.
Kenya’s recent road crashes have resulted in public outcry about poorly maintained roads with unlimited potholes. The same is true for bridges, including the killer Tharaka Nithi bridge, which has attracted the attention of top policymakers and is expected to undergo major repairs or reconstruction.
In short, crashes are already being linked to poorly maintained highways. Journalists in Kenya and other African nations are beginning to give much-needed attention to routinely reporting on the already devastating impact of road crashes, which have unlimited negative socio-economic impacts at both national and family levels.
The mass media in Africa, more than other continents, are beginning to highlight the emerging impacts of road crashes causing deaths and physical and mental injuries. Journalists have a professional responsibility to go beyond copying police reports and visit hospitals and even following up on the impact on families.
In short, the media needs to routinely or daily cover various aspects of road crashes and their potentially devastating socio-economic impacts at household and family levels.
The media is used to help highlight Africa’s efforts towards attaining the global target of a 50 percent reduction of road deaths and injuries by 2030.
