Speeding Miraa pickups once threw police IG off the road as traffic cops looked the other way

Leaders have criticised traffic authorities for failing to act on overspeeding of Miraa vehicles amid increased accidents involving them.

Vehicles transporting miraa are notorious for overspeeding and breaking all traffic rules. They are involved in hit and run cases as they transport this highly perishable commodity.

Leaders appealed to County commissioners and police commanders to ensure enforcement of traffic rules to curb the increased deaths caused by Miraa vehicles.

Reckless driving of these vehicles has cost many lives. 

Despite previous warnings given to the drivers, no action has been taken.

“Families have lost their loved ones and children have been orphaned due to reckless driving. Within this last one week, two people from Tigania have been injured, and admitted at Meru Level V Hospital. The drivers have taken no responsibility and have been behaving like they are above the law. We have buried others including a man who left behind six children,” Said a local leader.

The journey from Meru to Nairobi takes close to four hours, however Miraa vehicles take less time due to over speeding.

Drivers and people operating along Meru-Nairobi live in fear for their lives because despite various police patrol cruisers being positioned on the highway, miraa vehicles do not stop or slow down.

While miraa farmers count their profits, many families continue to count their loss as family members nurse incapacitating injuries and pain of death.

Two years ago the then Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet was not spared the craze of miraa-transporting vehicles on his way to celebrate Madaraka day in Meru.

Boinnet’s motorcade had to give way to the speeding vehicles with their headlights on full beam as they cruised recklessly, flouting traffic all known rules.

In March 24, 2015 two people died in Mwea, Kirinyaga County after a pick-up ferrying Miraa collided with a lorry.

On April 30, 2019 two people died in a grisly road accident after an over speeding miraa lorry collided with a saloon car.

In February this year 17 people were injured while one died in Muranga after an accident involving an overspeeding Miraa and a public service vehicle.

In May 7 this year a miraa driver died on the spot in Naromoru, along Nyeri-Nanyuki highway while transporting Miraa to Nairobi.

This are but some of the accidents caused by over speeding miraa drivers.

Leaders have now called on traffic authorities take necessary measures in stopping reckless driving. They have also urged drivers to observe decency and ensure lives are not lost due to carelessness.

Source: Mt Kenya Times