International transport charity Transaid presented its current work on motorcycle safety in Kenya to delegates at an injury prevention conference in New Delhi.
Its programmes support manager, Jason Finch, told attendees a robust helmet standard existed in the African country, but enforcement of the policy and access to quality helmets was lacking.
“We’ve taken an approach to fixing this by recognising that real, lasting change requires buy-in from stakeholders across numerous sectors, including ones that may not be initially obvious,” he said.
“The situation in Kenya is not unique, and there are a lot of potential takeaways. Our hope is that the platform we had in Delhi will prove key to emerging regional discussions about the rise in two-wheelers, and the appropriate response in terms of helmet safety, especially in the context of motorcycle taxi riders and their passengers.”
Transaid was initially selected by the FIA Foundation to establish a national helmet wearing coalition in Kenya in 2021, before securing an extension to its work in 2023.
Earlier this year it secured funding for a third phase from the FIA Foundation, which will run over an 18-month period.
The conference was hosted by the George Institute for Global Health and the World Health Organization.
In addition to road safety, the event covered a variety of topics including drowning, falls, global surgery and trauma, child injuries, violence, disability and rehabilitation.
