National Highway Authority (KeNHA) has faced intense criticism following an incident in Ruaka, Kiambaa Sub County, where residents set fire to a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 after it was involved in a fatal accident that claimed the lives of two pedestrians.
The tragic accident occurred on Ruaka-Ndenderu Road, a stretch notorious for lacking pedestrian crossing marks.
Witnesses described how anger and grief turned to outrage as locals, frustrated by KeNHA’s inaction, set the luxury vehicle ablaze shortly after it struck and killed the pedestrians.
Kenyans have expressed their frustration with KeNHA, accusing the agency of neglecting safety measures on this busy road. The lack of pedestrian crossing marks and non-functional street lights are seen as contributing factors to the frequent accidents on the Ruaka-Ndenderu stretch.
In response to the incident, KeNHA quickly rectified the errors by installing crossing marks and ensuring the street lights were operational.
However, this swift action has raised questions among Kenyans about why it took so many tragedies for the agency to address these issues.
Residents of Ruaka have long called for better infrastructure to protect pedestrians, including the installation of footbridges and speed bumps. Their pleas, however, have often gone unanswered, leaving many feeling neglected.
By Mwaura Kimani
