MPs demand tough action on reckless miraa drivers
The matter was raised during a debate in the National Assembly, where several MPs shared personal experiences and concerns about the safety risks posed by vehicles transporting miraa.
Members of Parliament are demanding firm action to deal with reckless miraa drivers, who they say are putting lives at risk along key highways.
The legislators have raised alarm over what they describe as dangerous habits by miraa transporters, especially along the busy Nairobi-Meru highway.
More To Read
- NTSA slashes boda boda license fees from Sh15,000 to Sh3,000 in safety push
- NTSA to install high-tech speed cameras on major Nairobi roads to curb speeding
- Pedestrians top road fatalities as death toll reaches 1,139 in first quarter – NTSA report
- Super Metro ordered to terminate services of 269 drivers before resuming operations
The matter was raised during a debate in the National Assembly, where several MPs shared personal experiences and concerns about the safety risks posed by vehicles transporting miraa.
They called on the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Ministry of Transport to take immediate steps to restore order on the roads.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula led the calls for action, warning that reckless driving by miraa transporters had become too common.
“From where I sit, I take judicial notice of the reckless manner in which those vehicles are driven. I have narrowly escaped a head-on collision with them, not once, not twice,” he said.
Runyenjes MP Muchangi Karemba, who requested a statement on the issue, said the situation was getting worse. He noted that miraa transporters were increasingly ignoring traffic laws as they rushed to deliver the perishable crop to markets in Nairobi.
“Transportation of miraa from Meru to Nairobi has increasingly become associated with reckless driving. The urgent need to deliver this highly perishable crop to Nairobi markets has fostered a culture of impunity among miraa transporters, who often disregard traffic regulations, speed limits and law enforcement instructions,” he said.
Karemba demanded that the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure provide a full statement from the ministry on what actions are being taken both in the short and long term.
According to him, the conduct of the drivers is against the Traffic Act (Cap. 403), which outlines road safety rules.
Several MPs supported his remarks. Embu County Woman Representative Pamela Njeru called for stricter punishment for drivers who flout the rules.
Julius Melly from Tinderet added that MPs must take the lead in returning sanity to the roads.
Samburu County Woman Representative Pauline Lenguris gave an account of her own experience when travelling to Samburu.
“Sometimes, they cause many accidents. I have witnessed accidents while travelling to Samburu along the Nanyuki-Isiolo route. The drivers should adhere to NTSA rules to avoid accidents,” she said.
Ali Raso from Saku suggested a more radical approach. He proposed that miraa transporters should have separate roads to prevent them from endangering lives of other motorists.
Other Topics To Read
Funyula MP Ojiambo Oundo also raised concern about the failure of police to control speeding.
“I happen to use that road occasionally on some private business. Indeed, sometimes I literally hold my heart in my hands when I see a vehicle transporting miraa overtaking me or coming head-on,” he said
Top Stories Today
