Transport along the Matuu-Mwingi Road which traverses through Kitui County was temporarily paralyzed on Friday after Christian faithful blocked the road to conduct prayers.
Following numerous road accidents that have cost many lives along the stretch, the Christians from the Interdenominational Faith Fellowship went about singing hymns, making declarations and saying words of prayer as they sought divine intervention for a road they believe needs cleansing.
"We are conducting interdenominational prayers on this road because we have witnessed many accidents here since it was constructed in 1985."
"We have lost, children, young men, and women on this road, that's why we saw it fit to conduct prayers here and cleanse it from the devil who is using this road to eradicate God's people", Rev Martha, who was among the faithful stated.
Christians from different churches in Kithioko area also tagged along to achieve the intended objective.
"We are here to pray so that we will not continue to witness more road accidents here", another faithful reiterated.
According to Pastor Titus Donye who was among the faithful, the group felt it was important to conduct the prayers so they can deliver the road from 'evil spirits' he claimed were responsible for the many accidents.
"We are here to stand in the gap as children of God to condemn the evil spirits on this road. We have come to make cleansing declarations and save more people from perishing on this road", Pastor Titus Donye reiterated.
The prayer session disrupted normal road operations and caused traffic as the Christians carrying placards temporarily disrupted traffic.
The Christians called on Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to construct barriers at the Matuu School and Matuu Church to prevent further carnage.
This comes even as numerous accidents continue to be reported along the Matuu-Mwingi Road which residents have previously described as a blackspot. The latest incident involved the demise of 11 people who lost their lives to a grisly road carnage along the stretch while coming from a dowry party in June 2022.
This is not the first time faithful are conducting prayers on a road over evil spirits. In 2021, Mijikenda elders conducted prayers and cleansing activities at the Mombasa-Malindi highway cleansing the road from what they believed to be evil spirits.
The elders marched to the road carrying a black hen, a red cock, a goat together with a traditional pot full of concoctions.
Speaking to journalists during the special prayers event, Mijikenda Kaa Elders Association coordinator Tsuma Nzai said it was important to conduct the rituals to save lives from being lost through road accidents.
