Four Chwele Market traders killed in a road crash at Mai Mahiu have been mourned by their families, friends and fellow traders at a gathering in Bungoma County.
Mercyline Wefwafwa, Centrine Juma, Jane Barasa and Anthony Kilwake were remembered at Busakala Secondary School in Kabuchai Constituency, where their deaths were described as a major loss to the Chwele business community.
The four were tomato traders who had travelled from Chwele to Karatina, Nyeri County, to source tomatoes and other groceries for their businesses. Five other members of the business community were injured in the crash and taken to various hospitals.
Speaking during the gathering, Chwele Tomato Traders chairman Joseph Maingi called on authorities to identify and clearly mark accident-prone areas across the country.
Maingi said clear warning signs would help motorists recognise dangerous sections of roads and take greater caution, particularly in areas where crashes occur frequently.
“When we arrive there and see that warning sign, we can be cautious,” Maingi said.
He urged leaders to take up the issue in Parliament, saying better identification and marking of dangerous road sections could help motorists make informed decisions and prevent further loss of life.
Nominated Senator Consolata Wakwabubi and Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli, who attended the gathering, also addressed the traders and families, with both calling for measures to improve road safety and support those affected by such incidents.
Wakwabubi focused on the welfare of drivers undertaking long-distance journeys, saying they need adequate time to rest.
She proposed arrangements that would allow two drivers to share long journeys and alternate during the trip, reducing the pressure on a single driver to travel for long periods without adequate rest.
“Drivers are human beings like us, and they need to rest,” Wakwabubi said.
She added that she would work with Wakoli to explore possible legislative measures, including insurance and other safety interventions that could support drivers and improve road safety.
Wakoli expressed his condolences to the families of the four traders and thanked the Chwele Market organising committee for supporting them during the difficult period.
He also commended the medical teams and security officers who assisted after the crash and helped facilitate the return of the victims to their families.
Wakoli described the deceased as hardworking people who were parents and providers for their families, saying their deaths had left behind relatives and loved ones who did not get the opportunity to bid them a final farewell.
He also praised traders from different markets across Bungoma County for standing with the Chwele community during the mourning period.
The deaths have renewed calls for stronger road-safety measures, with traders seeking better identification of hazardous road sections, clearer warning signs and measures to address driver fatigue.
The traders and bereaved families are now calling for the concerns raised during the gathering to translate into practical measures that can help prevent similar crashes and protect motorists and other road users.
