By Ali Mwalimu
The Mombasa County government, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is poised to launch an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving road safety in the city.
According to Engineer Ali Shariff, Chief Officer of the Department of Transport and Infrastructure, the project will include installing 22 traffic signals across Mombasa Business District and its environs, as well as three variable message signboards to inform motorists and pedestrians of real-time traffic conditions.
A state-of-the-art traffic control centre will also be set up to monitor and manage traffic flow across the county.
“Through our partnership with the government of Japan, we plan to implement multiple initiatives to ease congestion and enhance road safety for all users,” Shariff stated.
He further noted that the project is in its final stages, pending final approval and funding from the Japanese government, with a targeted implementation date early next year.
Speaking during a Journalists’ road safety training organized by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) in Mombasa, Shariff also announced plans to establish an inter-county bus terminal at Kibarani, relocating all inter-county buses currently operating in the Central Business District (CBD).
“Relocating inter-county buses from the CBD to mainland west will help alleviate congestion within the city centre,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has raised concerns over the rising number of road crashes, especially as the festive season approaches.
NTSA’s Manager for Road Safety and Strategies, Samuel Musumba, reported that 3,435 people lost their lives in road crashes from January to September 2024.
“We are at a critical juncture and must address this issue urgently,” Musumba emphasized, urging vehicle owners to comply with safety regulations.
NTSA plans to step up enforcement efforts on major roads throughout the holiday season to deter traffic violations.
Kevin Ismael, Communication Coordinator at BIGRS, emphasized the role of the media in promoting road safety through solution-based journalism.Â
“Our goal is to empower journalists to effectively report on solutions to reduce road crashes,” he said.
Ismael added that BIGRS, along with partners like the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI), is providing technical support to county authorities to make Mombasa’s roads safer, including planning for pedestrian and cycling lanes.
