Driving on wet and unmarked murram roads

A large share of Kenyan driving happens away from smooth, marked tarmac — on murram roads, dusty tracks, and tarmac that floods in the rains. These surfaces reward a calmer, smoother style.

Less grip means lower speed

Loose gravel and wet mud offer far less grip than dry tarmac. The single most effective safety measure is to slow down before you need to. Lower speed gives the tyres more time to find grip and gives you more time to react to a pothole, an animal, or an oncoming vehicle on a narrow track.

Smooth inputs, no sudden moves

On a slippery surface, sudden braking, sharp steering, or a stab of throttle can break traction and start a skid. Brake gently and early, steer smoothly, and accelerate progressively. If the back of the car starts to slide, ease off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction the rear is going until grip returns — do not grab the brakes.

Corrugations and dust

Washboard corrugations make the car skip and reduce steering grip; find the speed where the ride is least violent rather than fighting every ridge, and slow well down for corners. In dry conditions, the dust thrown up by the vehicle ahead can hide the road completely — drop back until you can see, because braking blind into dust is how head-on crashes happen.

No markings, no assumptions

Without a centre line, oncoming drivers may sit in the middle of the road and cut blind corners. Keep left, especially on bends and crests, sound a short warning on the horn where visibility is poor, and be ready to give way. On wet, unmarked roads, courtesy and caution keep you alive far more reliably than right of way.