Driving in Kenya could be a challenge If you are unfamiliar with Kenya. This country is a great place for tourists who want to have an outdoor experience. To be honest, the African nation is a place of broken, bumpy, uneven as well as a tricky terrain. However, the country is considered one of the countries with a constructed traffic system. This explains why foreigners around the world love Kenya. On the other hand, locals drive in improper lanes and cause hurdles when driving. The reason for this is due to the huge population.
With the technology and the help from Kenya’s government, the situation is improving. To drive in Kenya, drivers must fasten their seat belts, as well as possess driver’s licenses inside the vehicle. It is compulsory to have a driver’s license, documentation along insurance. These are some of the clauses in the rule book of Kenya’s drivers, which the government makes the Kenyans follow.
However, there are many difficulties. To be more precise, the lack of infrastructure, as well as poor road conditions makes it harder to drive through the streets. The better way to deal with the streets is the bicycle. Mostly Kenyans use a bicycle to travel around the roads. And due to heavy traffic, a bicycle comes as a saving method. Nevertheless, apart from all the solutions, there are still some of the hardcore challenges that Kenyans face every single day. In this article, we will list them out and explain why they are hard to get rid of.
The Top Challenges with Driving in Kenya
When tourists are traveling in other countries, most of them diversify in opinions. Some people enjoy the locations and landscapes, while others prefer the culture and the food. Yet most of them agree with one thing: the traffic. Traffic is the most time-consuming aspect when it comes to traveling. And Nairobi, Kenya is the greatest example. Despite the effort from the government, the traffic is really bad.
Therefore, we can list out the 5 top challenges with driving in Kenya: careless driving, poor road quality, poor car condition, crime rates, and fuel charges. Normally, these factors happen in every developing country, yet in Nairobi, they are a huge problem. To be honest, it felt like all five issues were layered on top of each other, creating an immense mess. Along with that, let’s take a close look:
Careless driving
According to UsedCars.co.ke, one of the biggest issues that exists in Kenya is careless and drunk driving. Not to mention, many locals have a habit of driving while drinking, and this is super dangerous. To be more specific, a person who can’t even walk or stand still gets another drink to drive on a bumpy road. That is how huge the problem could be when driving in Kenya. At worst, the drunk driver could hit the cars when driving and kill other car owners. And the sad fact is, such hideous crimes exist in Kenya, which makes the place so unsafe when driving in this African nation.
Poor condition of vehicles
Another issue when driving in Kenya is how poor the condition of the automobiles. Along with having a poor road conditions, Kenya’s cars have one of the worst maintenance conditions. For example, frequent brake fails, poor alignment which is mainly due to bumpy roads, as well as extraordinary fuel consumption. They are common problems existing in automobiles. The cars that have poor maintenance will result in high-risk accidents. So if you are looking for used cars in Kenya, you need to check the car’s condition first. Now, imagine this combination: the road is broken, the driver is drunk, and the car is also in terrible condition. To be honest, I can’t survive the challenging drive around Kenya.
See more:
- Mombasa Students Cycle on Dangerous Roads to Get to School
- Driving and Road Safety in Kenya as a Tourist
The poor condition of the roads
Poor road conditions are one of the most challenging issues when driving in Kenya. Believe it or not, most of the roads in Kenya are not in good condition. Not to mention, it is hard to find an acceptable road until you reach the main city of Nairobi. It is partly thanks to the region’s having many factories and industries.
However, we need to take a closer look at the reason why Kenya has so many damaged roads like this. The products are transported every other hour from one place to another. And due to heavy transportation, drivers find it hard to deliver products, which damages the roads. Along with that, the roads have too many bumps and steep slopes. This makes it so much more difficult for drivers, forcing them to always jerk and brake. Because of the uneven roads, the traffic is always at its maximum capacity in Kenya. Even a small drive could take hours and hours.
Crime rates
Crime rates are one of the most massive factors that make traveling in Kenya a trouble. It is understandable for people to always feel anxious about coming out of their houses. Of course, no one wants to travel around the town because of the fear of getting robbed. In Kenya, many gangs work for their leaders and commit all such crimes. Even with the protection from the government as well as their strict action, the lack of proper skills and abilities is the main reason why the crime rate is rising.
Fuel charges
Last but certainly not least, Kenya’s issues that exist in the region are fuel charges. The people of Kenya have been facing trouble in refueling their tanks. And the main reason for this is that the prices always skyrocket. Nevertheless, drivers can solve the problem by having a Japanese car. According to Usedcars.co.ke, the Japanese cars from Japan car auction websites are not only fuel-efficient but also eco-friendly. Even Kenya’s roads, provide a smooth drive on uneven roads. So if you do not want to spend much money to enjoy a comfortable ride, a Japanese car is the solution.
