The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, organized an awareness campaign in Kirinyaga County concerning the rising accidents involving miraa vehicles.
In a statement on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, KeNHA took note of the increased cases involving miraa vehicles which have left several people dead and others battling for their lives in hospitals.
“KeNHA Central Region, in collaboration with the Kirinyaga County Commissioner’s Office, NTSA, and the county security team, conducted a road safety awareness campaign along the Makutano-Embu (B24) Road following recent accidents involving speeding miraa vehicles. The Authority reaffirmed her commitment to promoting road safety and increasing public awareness,” KeNHA said in a statement.
Miraa vehicles accidents
This comes just days after a driver and his passenger died after a Toyota Probox he was driving crashed head-on with a lorry along the Nairobi-Meru Highway near Njuri on January 29, 2025.
According to police reports, the Probox which was travelling from Embu lost control as it was descending a hill when it crashed into an oncoming lorry on the opposite lane.
Just three days before that, a driver ferrying miraa was rushed to hospital after he crashed into an incomplete building along the Baricho-Kiburu road on January 26, 2025.
On January 18, 2025, two people lost their lives after they were hit by a vehicle ferrying miraa along the Kitui-Kibwezi road.
Area chief Kyambati King’ondu confirmed the accident, noting that he had been alerted of the accident in the morning.
“I rushed to the scene and found that a miraa pick-up had knocked down two people, who died on the spot,” King’ondu noted.
Miraa vehicle set ablaze
On January 27, 2025, a pick-up ferrying miraa was set ablaze in Kirinyaga County after getting involved in an accident which resulted in the death of a local bodaboda rider along the Embu-Mwea highway.
The driver is reported to have knocked down the bodaboda rider and dragged him for several metres before coming to a complete stop.
Irate residents pushed the vehicle off from the accident scene after which they set it on fire before police officers arrived at the scene.
“The driver dragged the rider several meters from the scene,” Peter Macharia said, visibly shaken as he spoke to a local TV station in a video shared on social media.
“It was horrifying to watch. The speed at which these miraa vehicles move is reckless and dangerous. This highway has become a death trap, and innocent lives are paying the price.”
