Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood has called for urgent road safety measures along the Meru-Nairobi Highway following Thursday night’s accident that left four people dead and 16 others injured after a lorry reportedly lost control and rammed into several vehicles near Rubis Petrol Station in Riverland, Meru town.
Speaking at the Meru Level Five Hospital mortuary, where he had gone to console bereaved families, Dawood expressed concern over recurring accidents along the busy highway and called for interventions to prevent further loss of lives.
“There have been suggestions to install speed bumps, but the engineer has rejected them, saying they would create more problems,” Dawood said.
The legislator said he has engaged an engineer from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to explore possible safety measures, adding that engineers were expected to visit the accident scene next week to assess the road and recommend appropriate interventions.
Dawood also called for consultations between the county government and relevant authorities to identify alternative trading spaces for businesspeople operating along the highway, warning against evicting traders without considering their livelihoods.
“We have to know where these people will be relocated because evicting them without providing an alternative trading space is not good. Everyone is facing economic challenges, and it will be a problem if we do not show them where to go,” Dawood said.
The MP revealed that discussions were underway on the possibility of establishing an alternative road from the Tuskys stage area to ease traffic congestion around Kathita, which has experienced several accidents.
He also cautioned against concluding that brake failure caused Thursday’s accident before police investigations were completed.
“We know it is being said that the lorry experienced brake failure, but we do not know whether that is true, whether the driver fell asleep while driving, or what happened. That is why we are waiting for the police to conduct their investigations,” Dawood said.
The legislator disclosed that he had contacted Meru Level Five Hospital management to establish the condition of those injured, saying 11 patients had been admitted while others with minor injuries had received treatment and been discharged.
In addition, Imenti North Sub-County Police Commander Hassan Bashir noted that the lorry was travelling from Makutano towards Nkubu when it reportedly developed mechanical problems near the Meru County Library.
Bashir said the driver lost control while descending the steep section of the highway before colliding with three other vehicles.
“In the process, we had several injuries, including 16 people who were injured, and we lost four others who succumbed to their injuries,” Bashir said.
The police commander confirmed that the deceased included three men and one woman who succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at Meru Level Five Hospital.
He said police officers, assisted by Kenya Red Cross personnel, evacuated the casualties to the hospital and cautioned residents against spreading unverified information on social media, saying misleading reports were causing unnecessary anxiety among affected families.
Nonetheless, the Meru County Government has announced immediate measures to remove roadside traders and boda boda operators from Riverland to prevent similar tragedies.
Meru Municipality Manager Gitobu Nkanata said authorities had repeatedly warned traders against operating along the dangerous section of the highway, but their appeals had gone unheeded.
“Today, the enforcement officers and commanders have been briefed that no boda boda rider or trader will be allowed to operate in Riverland. Everyone must move out of that area,” Nkanata said.
He maintained that the county government would enforce the directive against those who failed to comply, emphasising the need to protect lives along the highway.
