The Association of Kenya Insurers has donated 240 umbrellas to the Traffic Police Department to assist Police Officers in maintaining law and order on the road.

The gesture by AKI comes at a time when the onset of the heavy rains has witnessed a rapid increase in road accidents. With the umbrellas, AKI believes the traffic police officers will be better-placed to man key round-abouts and blackspots areas, under the confortable shelter of the umbrellas.

"We want to support the Traffic Control Unit during this and other rainy seasons since it is hard for them to deliver during this season due to lack of umbrella's with the heavy rains that are ongoing," AKI Executive Director, Mr Tom Gichuhi said while making the donation at the traffic headquarters on Thika road.

The Executive Director said the Kenyan insurance industry was keen, to enhance road safety so as to develop a win-win situation for all. He said most injuries and fatalities on Kenyan roads caused by preventable incidents, which the police could help reverse if they were well equipped, supported and motivated.

Mr Gichuhi further noted that the contribution of the traffic department in enforcing road safety regulations and facilitating a free flow of traffic was critical in reducing ugly incidences on Kenyan roads.

On his part, the Highway Traffic Police Commandant, Mr Joseph Ole Tito said his department was very grateful to AKI for the gesture.

He said that other than AKI, he was glad that some people were noticing the challenging environments under which the police work as well as the difficult assignments they were involved in and were coming out to forge partnerships with a view to making Kenyan roads safer.

The move by AKI comes barely a month after AKI feted organizations and individuals for their selfless service towards enhancing safety on Kenyan roads. The annual Road Safety Awards ceremony held last month also carried a strong plea to the Commissioner of Police to enforce full compliance with the Legal notice No. 161 of 2003 also known as 'Michuki Rules', as a critical factor to ensure adherence to the traffic code.

Mr Gichuhi told Ole Tito that AKI was also keen to initiate a reward scheme to recognize traffic policemen who offered outstanding service during the next round of awards as a way of motivating the officers.

Apart from the donation, every Easter and Christmas Holidays, AKI conducts radio and TV campaigns on road safety, sharing with all road users the do's and don'ts on the road and how careless use of roads is costing human lives, hurting the economy and in the long-run - slowing the national growth momentum.