Grief at Kiaga crash scene as woman dies in road accident

A tragic road accident along the Kiaga–Kerugoya Road in Kirinyaga Central on Tuesday claimed the life of a 53-year-old woman and left residents calling for enhanced road safety measures.

The victim, identified as Elizabeth Kanini, died on the spot after the motorcycle she was travelling on was reportedly hit from behind by a speeding vehicle near Kiaga trading centre.

The tragedy was compounded by emotional scenes at the crash site as Kanini's elderly mother broke down in tears while viewing her daughter's body. In a rare display of compassion, two female traffic police officers from Kerugoya Police Station were seen comforting the grieving woman as she struggled to come to terms with the loss.

Witnesses said the officers spent several minutes consoling her as the body was being prepared for removal to the mortuary.

"How will I tell my grandchildren that their mother is gone?" the distraught woman repeatedly asked as the officers held and comforted her.

According to family members and local residents led by Peter Muthii, Kanini had travelled from her matrimonial home in Baricho, Ndia Constituency, to visit her mother in Kiaga when the accident occurred.

They said the vehicle struck the motorcycle she was riding on from behind and dragged it for more than 100 metres. Kanini died instantly, while the boda boda rider sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital for treatment.

Relatives and neighbours gathered at the scene in shock, with many struggling to contain their grief.

"Elizabeth was coming home from Baricho and was killed just near the gate. Her home is close to this road. What will I tell her children?" her mother lamented.

Residents blamed speeding for the accident and said the tragedy could have been avoided.

"If the driver had been moving at a reasonable speed, this woman would still be alive today. She was our neighbour, and this is a painful loss for the community," said a resident identified as Sicily.

The accident has renewed concerns over road safety along the Kiaga–Kerugoya Road, which residents say has witnessed a rising number of fatal crashes in recent years.

Residents are now urging the Ministry of Roads and Transport and other relevant authorities to introduce additional safety measures, including more speed bumps and traffic calming infrastructure, particularly in populated sections of Kanyekiine Ward.

"Recently, two adults died in another accident, and before that, a school-going child was killed. We need urgent intervention before more lives are lost," said resident Peter Kibuchi.

Kanini's body was taken to Kerugoya Hospital Mortuary, while the vehicle involved and the damaged motorcycle were towed to Kerugoya Police Station pending inspection and investigations.News angle: This version leads with the unusual and compelling scene of police officers consoling the victim's mother while tying it to the broader issue of recurring fatal accidents on the Kiaga–Kerugoya Road, making it both a human-interest story and a public safety story.