A fatal accident along the Mwea-Embu Highway in Kirinyaga County has claimed the life of a boda boda rider after a speeding pickup truck transporting miraa collided with his motorcycle near Kianjiru Trading Centre.
The vehicle, reportedly en route from Meru to Nairobi, struck the rider with such force that he was dragged for several meters, according to eyewitness Peter Macharia. "The impact was horrifying; the driver dragged the rider along the highway," Macharia recounted.
In a shocking turn of events, angry residents of Kianjiru retaliated by setting the miraa-laden truck ablaze. The truck driver and a passenger narrowly escaped with their lives. As the vehicle went up in flames, tensions escalated, leaving traffic police from Wanguru Police Station unable to control the situation. "The police were overwhelmed by the angry crowd," said Mary Wambui, a local resident.
The chaos brought traffic along the busy highway to a standstill for over two hours, disrupting movement from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Motorists and commuters were stranded as residents blocked the road in protest. Joseph Wanjohi, a resident, revealed that the same truck was allegedly involved in another fatal accident just weeks earlier in Ngurubani Town, where two children lost their lives. "Residents are furious because this isn’t the first time this vehicle has caused a tragedy," he said.
David Irungu, chairman of boda boda operators at Kimbimbi Trading Centre, confirmed that the victim was a local rider and expressed deep condolences to his family. "This is a heartbreaking loss for our community. We’re seeing these accidents happen far too often. It’s time for action," Irungu stated.
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The tragic incident has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, particularly for Miraa transport vehicles that frequently travel at high speeds through populated areas.
Residents are urging the government to implement stronger measures to ensure road safety and prevent further loss of lives.
