Technical Communications prevents accidents

On Saturday 10th December, a road crush occurred along Naivasha-Nakuru road. This incident that resulted in the loss of over forty lives has attracted condemnation from a wide range of people including the head of state. The main cause being fronted is the lack of markings and signage on the roads. 

Unfortunately, this known fact is taken lightly by senior officials in the transport industry.  Just two months ago (in October), I made a visit to the ministry and asked to talk to the person in charge of safety. Accompanied by a colleague, we were directed to an official who was gracious enough to give us about 45 minutes of his time. Despite pitching to him the importance of the ministry recognising and bringing on board professional technical communication practitioners like myself to help improve transport safety on roads and beyond, the official remained adamant that all was well. 

Whereas, the ministry does not undertake the actual work on the roads since agencies such as Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) have been given the construction function. And additionally, the National Transport Safe Authority (NTSA) has further mandate to oversee good roads’ usage; the ministry is accountable for policy and overall responsibility. 

The senior official could not differentiate between general road signage that communicate direction for instance, Mombasa 500km and Thika 40 km; and safety signage that give strict instructions such as slow down, or pumps ahead.  He therefore continuously boasted on how the roads are already well labeled and there is no room for further help from outside quarters.

At NTSA the receptionist was unfriendly and refused to direct us to the communications department. Instead she rudely told us to post any suggestions we may have on their website.  Of course we declined her unhelpful assistance. 

Beyond the roads, at Kenya Power and lighting Company (KPLC), I was told that the company happily subcontracts the entire communications requirements to a PR company. The communications official that spoke to me confessed that he has never heard of technical communications and kept wondering how different it was from creative! My hand-delivered letter to them in late September, requesting audience with the person in charge is still awaiting response. 

This lack of awareness and accompanied arrogance will hang on to endanger lives of citizens. Public institutions must keep abreast with changing times and new expertise that solve unique problems.   Yesteryears solutions are not necessarily appropriate for todays’ and tomorrow’s challenges.

The technical communications practice in Kenya will not tire to sensitise and educate the public and relevant public agencies on the role of safety communication in the modern society especially in respect to pharmaceuticals and poisonous substances, electricity and energy, and transport matters.