Three people have been killed in two separate road accidents along the Mwea-Embu Highway in Kirinyaga County.
Two of the victims, a boda boda rider and his pillion passenger, died after they were crushed by an unknown vehicle near the Mutithi-Kandongu junction on Monday.
Police said the two were travelling towards Ngurubani from Mutithi when the accident occurred. They died at the scene.
Their identities were yet to be established by the time of reporting. The incident was reported at Wang'uru Police Station by a well-wisher.
The second accident occurred at Murubara, where a woman was allegedly knocked down by a vehicle heading to Embu from Ngurubani.
The vehicle did not stop, and witnesses said no one managed to record its registration number.
Samuel Muthike, a witness, said the woman had been arguing with a boda boda rider who had been carrying her before she suddenly attempted to cross the road.
«"The woman was seen arguing with a boda boda rider who was ferrying her and all of a sudden she decided to cross the road when she was knocked down, but the boda boda rider ran away," said Muthike.»
Residents said the incident occurred only a few metres from the scene of another deadly crash last month in which 10 people were killed by a parcel delivery van.
Peter Gacu said the woman was first hit by a speeding lorry before being run over by a matatu, with both vehicles leaving the scene.
«"She was hit by a speeding lorry that did not stop, then a matatu heading to Meru ran over her and it also did not stop. She was a young woman," said Gacu.»
Residents who regularly use the busy highway, led by Mutithi boda boda chairman Hesbon Mwangi, are now calling for additional speed bumps and other safety measures along the road.
Rubble strips were installed at Murubara following last month's fatal crash, but residents say more needs to be done.
Mwangi said the two victims killed near the Mutithi junction remained unidentified, adding that traffic police officers from Wang'uru removed their bodies and the motorcycle from the scene.
«"We need street lights because this is not the first accident," he said.»
Residents also raised concerns over speeding and hit-and-run incidents along the highway.
Joseph Waweru, who said he recently survived a crash, called for intervention by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
«"I was hit by a lorry near the Research area and left injured. I was rushed to hospital but the lorry disappeared. I came home from hospital last week. Drivers along this highway are very careless. Something needs to be done by NTSA," said Waweru.»
Police officers from Mwea-West and Mwea-East sub-counties have launched investigations into the two accidents.
The three bodies were taken to the mortuary as efforts to establish their identities and determine the circumstances surrounding the crashes continue.
