At least two people died on Tuesday night after being hit by a speeding Miraa pick-up vehicle along the Mwea-Embu Highway in Kirinyaga County.
The accident which occurred in Difathas area along the highway at around 10 pm saw a boda boda rider and his pillion passenger, an 18-year-old who had just completed his KCSE exams killed on the spot.
Confirming the incident, Mwea-East Sub-County Police Commander Mohammed Jarso stated that the Miraa pick-up was headed towards Nairobi before colliding with the boda boda.
"The accident occurred around 10 p.m., and it is deeply unfortunate for the family and residents of Difathas,” the police commander stated urging for motorists to exercise caution during this holiday.
After the tragic incident, the driver of the pick-up fled the scene, fearing reprisal from locals who, in the recent past, have resorted to mob justice against drivers involved in accidents.
In response, residents of Difathas and surrounding areas, including parts of Mwea and Gichugu constituencies, blocked the busy highway in protest.
The residents have long endured the menace of overspeeding by Miraa drivers. Recently, there have been several accidents involving Miraa vehicles, sparking outrage among the affected communities.
“This is not the first time this has happened. Recently, two children from Kithogondo Slums in Ngurubani were killed by a speeding Miraa vehicle. Today, it’s two people from Kiarigi Village. We demand accountability from the owners of these vehicles,” a resident demanded.
The Miraa driver was later arrested by the police in Ngurubani Town while attempting to flee towards Nairobi. He is currently being held at Wang'uru Police Station, pending processing before appearing in court.
The accident occurred less than a month after a similar incident where two children, aged 12 and 7, were killed by a speeding Miraa vehicle in Ngurubani. The children were heading to school when the Miraa vehicle, overtaking another on a section of the road with spikes erected by the county government, struck them.
Residents are now demanding that the government enforce stringent regulations on Miraa transportation to ensure the safety of road users along the busy road.
According to the latest figures from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), by April this year, road accidents across Kenya had claimed at least 1,189 lives, an increase of 60 deaths compared to the 1,129 fatalities recorded during the same period in 2023.
