By Michelle Ndaga
The government has vowed stern action against reckless miraa drivers blamed for a surge in deadly accidents along the busy Mwea–Embu highway.
Speaking during a Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Kirinyaga County, Transport and Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said errant miraa transporters would no longer be allowed to endanger lives. He directed police and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to step up patrols and ensure arrest and prosecution of offenders.
“We cannot put profit above human life. Every reckless driver will be held accountable,” Murkomen warned. He revealed that the government, in partnership with JICA and the Ministry of Interior, is developing a national traffic accident database to enhance monitoring and reporting of road crashes.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru echoed the concern, noting that at least 25 people lost their lives in miraa-related crashes in the county over the past year. She urged stricter regulations, including installation of speed governors and possible rerouting of miraa vehicles.
The crackdown follows growing public outrage. In late 2024, residents of Ngurubani blocked the highway after a speeding miraa pickup killed two children.
Earlier this year, a boda boda rider and his passenger were critically injured in a hit-and-run involving another miraa vehicle.
Lawmakers have since called for reforms such as mandatory tracking devices, lower speed limits, and revocation of licenses for repeat offenders.
The Embu–Nairobi corridor remains a critical route for miraa deliveries to major markets, but its notoriety as one of the country’s deadliest highways has sparked nationwide debate, with mounting pressure, authorities now face the challenge of balancing the crop’s economic value with the urgent need to protect road users.
