The National Transportation and Security Administration (NTSA) has partnered with Bloomberg Philanthropies, an organization founded by American billionaire Michael Bloomberg, on a project aimed at saving Kenyan lives.
At a special event on Wednesday, May 25, the agency announced the new initiative to reduce deaths and serious injuries from road crashes across the country.
This will be achieved by strengthening the two partners working with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen laws, guidelines, and measures that have been shown to save lives.
“It is acceptable to have no fatalities on our roads, road crashes are an urgent public health issue and we are working hard to address this emergency.
“Working with WHO and partners through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Road Safety Initiative will be key to supporting us in saving lives and driving progress,” said Agnes Odhiambo, NTSA Executive Chairman.
Partner organizations are meeting to determine how the initiative can best support a new road safety plan as the country prepares a new national road safety action plan aimed at halving road fatalities by 2030.
The launch marks the entry of the Bloomberg Global Road Safety Philanthropy Initiative into Kenya.
Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, the World Health Organization’s representative in Kenya, said improving road safety would prevent more loss of life on the road.
“Deaths in road accidents are a looming crisis. Strengthening road safety measures is critical because, in addition to the tragic loss of life, road safety affects all of our lives every day – including going to work and school.
“By strengthening laws, practices and bringing partners together, the Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative is the key to saving lives,” he said.
According to the NTSA, in the 12 months to the end of 2021, 4,579 people were killed in road traffic accidents in Kenya and tens of thousands were seriously injured.
Between January 1 and May 22, 2022, a total of 1,816 people died, a 9.2% increase compared to the same period in 2021.
10:26 Launch of the Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative for global road safety in Kenya, happening in Nairobi @InteriorKE @MOH_Kenya pic.twitter.com/D0JnnFxVTe via @ntsa_kenya
— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) May 25, 2022
U.S. charities include all of Michael Bloomberg’s donations, including his foundations, corporate and personal charities, and more.
The billionaire uses most of his empire’s profits to support the work of Bloomberg Philanthropies, which operates in more than 941 cities in 173 countries.
“Increasingly, towns and cities strive to use data to improve government performance and citizens’ lives,” Bloomberg said of his philanthropic work.
The American billionaire ran for president in 2020 but lost the Democratic race to incumbent Joe Biden.
