Kirinyaga County Commissioner, Hussein Allasow, together with security team, Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) and National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA), have move to quell the differences between Miraa drivers and Bodaboda riders along Makutano -Embu Highway that has extended to other roads users.
Recently a miraa vehicle was burnt after causing an accident, adding to several cases witnessed in the past.
The team held public sensitization meetings at Piai Center, Mwea East Sub- county and Ngurubani, Mwea West, noting that Kenyans have lost their loved ones to road accidents highlighting the need to ensure all road users unite to bring an end to cases of road carnage.
Commissioner Allasow reiterated the importance of safety on busy roads, informing the residents that everyone has a right to use the road, except those vehicles that have right of way referring to cases where miraa vehicles illegally hoot continuously, to scare away other road users.
“The Embu-Makutano Road is usually busy, and roads are for all. As we use them, we must ensure safety and when there is an accident, let not take action into our own hands. We have the police who will take action,” Allasow said
Allasow also revealed that he had been in communication with his colleagues from Embu and Meru counties, to ensure they talk to drivers.
“We’ve agreed to work together to ensure road safety across the region, I have been given the details of the miraa business people from Embu and Meru, so that we keep talking to them,” he said.
Mwea East Traffic Commander, Jamila Mohammed, acknowledged there have been reduced cases of accidents in the recent past, noting dialogue has worked because the officers have been talking to drivers who are caught breaking rules. She insisted on the use of safety gears by bodaboda riders.
Ms Jamila called on those tempering at the scene of the accident to keep-off until the police to assist in processing and investigation.
“Every road user will be held accountable, if they break the rules, there’s been an improvement, but more still needs to be done,” she said.
Echoing these sentiments, Ephantus Mwangi, from KeNHA highlighted some of the structural issues contributing to road accidents, particularly businesses operating on road reserves.
He assured the residents of Mwea that they will ensure all roads are pot holes free. Mwangi express dissatisfaction on scrap metals business people who are buying metal from vandalized road signs
“Stop stealing roadside metals for the scrap business. These markers are placed there to warn road users and warn about speed limits,”
Njoroge Gathambia from NTSA, said discipline and observing traffic rules are key in road safety, adding the NTSA will continue with the crackdown on road unworthy vehicles and bodaboda, especially those using modified lights.
Charles Chomba, Chair Muguka, traders in Kirinyaga, emphasized the critical need for road users to respect traffic rules at all times, pleading with his colleagues not to put the law into their hands in case of an accident.
He stressed that interfering with accident scenes not only disrupts the legal process, but can also prevent justice from being served.
By Gadwilliam Kiragu and Kimwele Mwende
