Motorists and residents of Gikumene area in the outskirts of Meru town have appealed to the government to intervene, and restore road sanity amongst miraa drivers whom they accuse of frequently causing accidents along the busy Meru-Nairobi Road.
The irate residents who blocked the road within Gikumene area, after a speeding miraa vehicle hit and killed an old man as he crossed the road, said their plea for stern action against the reckless drivers had fallen on deaf ears, accusing the police of complacency.
“We can’t continue watching helplessly as miraa vehicles continue claiming the lives of our people,” said one of the residents.
According to an eye witness, at about 9.30 pm, a speeding miraa vehicle ran over the old man as he tried to cross the road to his home at Gikumene.
It was at this point that the residents, led by the son of the deceased, barricaded the road using stones and tyres while demanding justice for the man.
According to Anthony Mwaura, the life of his 70-year-old father had been cut short by an act of carelessness that could have been avoided if the miraa drivers adhered to the traffic rules.
“Other vehicles cross here every day with no accidents, but miraa drivers have no value for life, as they only care about making their delivery on time,” said Mr. Mwaura
Johnston Kimathi, a boda boda operator said the speeding driver did not bother to stop even after causing the accident and instead sped off.
“Drivers of vehicles transporting miraa have no respect for road users at all, as this is not the first incident of hit and run,” said Mr. Kimathi
While confirming the incident, Imenti north OCPD Alex Makau condemned the reckless behavior of drivers of vehicles ferrying miraa, adding that they were notorious for not adhering to traffic rules.
“Drivers of miraa-ferrying vehicles have become used to dangerous speeding, without respecting other road users and existing road signs and I am calling on them to be slowing down to allow pedestrians to cross the road,” Makau said.
