Kisii: Excitement fades in hilly village as newly tarmacked road turns into a death trap

Residents of Mwamonari location in Rioma area, Kitutu Chache North, have raised concerns over a newly tarmacked road that has been taking lives, largely because of the topography of the area.

The Rioma-Engoto-Nyakoora-Kegogi road, for a long time, was scarcely passable, until late 2023 when its tarmacking started, much to the relief of the residents.

Many believed the road would alleviate the struggles they endured to get their produce to the market, or even help navigate from their homes to the nearby market centres and other places.

While that has been true, the road, sadly, has also turned tragic, as more vehicles and motorcycles now use it. Mwamonari location is hilly, and the said road meanders through the Sikonge Hills.

Due to the nature of the topography of this area, the road particularly has a steep descent between Engoto and Rioma areas, posing a major risk to road users, especially pedestrians and bodaboda operators.

Descending from Engoto to Rioma, bodaboda operators struggle to navigate the road, hence leading to some of them losing control of their motorcycles and crashing.

On December 25, 2024, Christmas Day, a bodaboda operator and his pillion passenger died when he lost control of the motorbike and crashed into a ditch. The pillion passenger died on spot while the rider died later in hospital.

This was one of the many cases of accidents that have been reported on this road since it was opened in early 2024.

Robert Monari, a bodaboda operator, narrated how one day while descending towards Rioma market, lost control of his motorbike and ended up in a maize field nearby.

“I was riding comfortably towards Rioma market when suddenly my brakes failed. I was not speeding, perhaps the reason even after landing in the maize field, I was not badly injured. I sustained a broken arm and bruises on my knees,” Monari said.

One of the solutions the residents have proposed is the erection of speed bumps to slow down fast moving vehicles.

“I am not so sure if speed bumps will help to reduce the accidents considering the topography of this area, but they are very necessary at this point,” Monari added.

Residents who cross the road from one end to another also have to be extra careful, lest they are hit by vehicles or motorbikes.

They, however, are grateful that the road is not as busy as the major highways, but sound caution that something needs to be done to avert more crises.