Kirinyaga: Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed the central region traffic commander to take stern action on speeding miraa drivers along the Embu-Nairobi highway. The directive comes after a series of tragic incidents that have sparked public outcry and concern from local authorities.
According to Kenya News Agency, during the Jukwaa la Usalama county tour in Kirinyaga, Murkomen stated that the regional traffic commander, Elizabeth Vivi, has been given full authority to enforce all laws necessary to curb the menace of reckless driving. ‘I have given the regional traffic commander the mandate to do anything under the law to deal with this issue-especially those accidents caused by miraa drivers,’ Murkomen emphasized.
Murkomen revealed that attempts to engage vehicle owners and transporters through a planned meeting during his Eastern region tour were unsuccessful after stakeholders failed to attend. ‘They refused to attend the meeting. So now, we will intensify enforcement until they are compelled to come to the table,’ he asserted. He challenged politicians who argue that such actions could harm the Miraa business to consider the morality of prioritizing profit over human life, stressing that the initiative is not an attack on the Miraa trade but a necessary step to protect lives.
Kirinyaga and Embu counties have consistently reported a high number of road accidents involving miraa vehicles, with children and pedestrians being the most affected. Kirinyaga County Governor Ann Waiguru, who was present at the event in Kerugoya, expressed concern over the escalating threat of miraa driver-related road accidents, noting that more than 21 lives have been lost in 2025 alone due to speeding vehicles, particularly along the Mwea-Embu Highway.
‘Our people are calling for stricter regulation of these vehicles, including possible rerouting and enhanced traffic enforcement, to protect innocent road users,’ she appealed. Additionally, the governor praised the Jukwaa La Usalama initiative as an example of the government’s commitment to collaborating with counties to secure communities and improve service delivery.
She highlighted that security is not merely the absence of danger but the presence of peace, trust, and opportunity for residents. On the issues of youth radicalization into crime and the menace of illicit brews, the governor called for a united effort to dismantle criminal networks and illicit brews, rehabilitate victims, and provide alternative livelihoods.
She further stressed the importance of strengthening community policing and Nyumba Kumi initiatives, which she said are crucial for intelligence gathering and early crime detection. ‘Security begins with the community itself. Strengthening grassroots structures builds trust and ensures quicker, more targeted responses by security agencies,’ she noted, while also urging the adoption of technology-driven surveillance and digital reporting platforms to modernize security operations.
