Tired of burying their loved ones who perish in road accidents, angry residents of Nyakinyua area in Cherang’any Constituency, Trans Nzoia County on Tuesday mounted speed bumps along the busy Kitale-Eldoret Highway.
According to the locals, the move is meant to help control the speed of vehicles and motorbikes plying that route.
Led by John Njuguna, the residents said the road has claimed lives of more than 20 people because vehicles and motorbikes speed along the stretch between Moi’s Bridge and Maili Saba trading center.
“We have buried riders, pedestrians including students who succumb to road accident injuries and we have said enough is enough. That is why we have decided to erect these temporary bumps to compel the government to act,” Njuguna said.
The local who unsuccessfully contested for Cherang’any Constituency Parliamentary seat in the 2022 general elections further called on the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) to redesign the road especially along the deadly stretch to reduce the number of road accidents.
Vehicles in free mode
“The government through KENHA, Ministry of Roads, Transport and Public Works as well as my friend Kipchumba Murkomen should listen to our cry and address it as an urgent matter so that we save lives of our people,” he appealed.
Elisabeth Wangura, a teacher at Gibea Jerusalem Academy said teachers are always forced to stop some of their classes in order to help pupils cross the road.
“Vehicles coming from either Kitale or Eldoret normally drive in free mode. This is dangerous and we have always received complaints from parents that lives of their children are always in danger because of speeding vehicles,” Wangura said.
Mark Maina, a parent, said speed bumps will help control speed, especially of trailers that have killed several people and livestock.
“Accidents are a common scenario along this road because there are no bumps. Trailers have killed many people and left others with lifetime injuries. This should come to an end as soon as possible,” Maina said.
In addition, Ednah Magut, a business person, told the government to expand the road from Kitale town in Trans Nzoia County to Maili Tisa in Uasin Gishu County.
She noted that some of the accidents on ths road are caused by its narrow nature and “it should be expanded because it is a busy, high traffic road.”
Kenya Roads Act
But despite taking action for their own safety, the move might land them in trouble with law.
Erecting speed bumps by unauthorised people or organizations amounts to contravention of Kenya Roads Act No 2 of 2007.
Only KeNHA is mandated by law to erect the speed pumps.
“Any person who contravenes this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a jail term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding one hundred shillings or both,” read part of the Kenya Roads Act.
