The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has launched a countrywide operation to remove hawkers and street families from footbridges and underpasses, citing growing safety concerns.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the authority said most footbridges along major highways had become “unfeasible to use due to encroachment,” forcing many pedestrians to cross roads at undesignated points. This, KeNHA noted, has led to a rise in accidents that could otherwise be avoided.
“Footbridges are designed to provide safe, efficient and often pleasant passage for pedestrians free from any obstacles and encumbrances,” the authority explained, adding that misuse had turned many of them into dangerous zones.
The operation began along the Ruiru–Thika section of the Thika Superhighway and will gradually expand to other regions. Apart from clearing encroachers, the exercise will also involve cleaning and maintaining footbridges and underpasses.
KeNHA said the initiative is being carried out jointly with National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), County Governments, the National Police Service, the Axle Load Enforcement Unit (ALEHU), and the KeNHA Corridor C team.
Reaffirming its commitment, the authority stated: “The Authority remains steadfast in her dedication to road safety, safeguarding road reserves, and ensuring safety of all road users.”
Earlier in August, KeNHA raised concern that the underuse and misuse of footbridges had been directly linked to rising pedestrian fatalities. Reports by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) indicate that 3,397 people have died in road crashes this year, with pedestrians accounting for 1,285 of the deaths.
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