Miraa pickup set ablaze after fatal accident in Kirinyaga

The vehicle, reportedly traveling from Meru to Nairobi, was speeding when it struck the motorcycle at Kianjiru, near the Kianjiru Trading Centre. 

In the aftermath, the driver and his companion narrowly escaped death, while the angry residents of Kianjiru and surrounding areas retaliated by setting the pickup truck on fire.

According to eyewitness Peter Macharia, the impact of the collision was severe, and the driver of the miraa vehicle reportedly dragged the rider for several meters along the busy highway.

"The driver dragged the rider several meters from the scene," Macharia said, visibly shaken by the harrowing events.

As the flames engulfed the vehicle, traffic police officers from the nearby Wanguru Police Station stood by, unable to intervene as tensions escalated. "Police cannot control this crowd," said Mary Wambui, a local resident who witnessed the events unfold.

The scene left many stunned, and the anger from the crowd was palpable.

The situation disrupted traffic along the Mwea-Embu Highway for over two hours, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Commuters and transport operators were caught in the chaos, with vehicles unable to pass through the area due to the road blockage. Local resident Joseph Wanjohi added, "Traffic police are having a very difficult time, but the angry residents say this is the same pickup that killed two children in Ngurubani Town just weeks ago."

David Irungu, the chairman of boda boda operators in Kimbimbi Trading Centre, confirmed that the deceased was a local boda boda rider. He expressed his condolences to the family and called for greater attention to road safety. "This is another tragic loss for the community, and it’s becoming a weekly occurrence. Something needs to be done," Irungu said.

The deadly crash has sparked outrage among residents, with many calling on the government to impose stricter regulations on the transportation of miraa.

Kirinyaga residents are demanding that measures be taken to prevent the frequent loss of lives in accidents involving miraa vehicles.

The community is rallying for stronger enforcement of traffic laws, particularly for high-speed miraa transport trucks that often travel through populated areas.