By Murugi Ndwiga, Eastern Region
The government has announced a raft of stringent measures aimed at curbing the rising number of road accidents linked to Miraa transport along the Embu- Meru highway.
Speaking during the Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Embu on Wedesday 28th, Eastern Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich issued a stern warning to Miraa drivers, urging them to strictly adhere to traffic rules and shun drug use while on duty. He emphasized that drivers found under the influence of drugs will be arrested and prosecuted without exception.
“We don’t want to kill any business in the Eastern Region, we want to support all businesses and we will continue to support them as long as those involved follow the law.” Rotich said. “Drivers who transport Miraa have been to driving schools and therefore they know the traffic rules , they must therefore follow these rules.” Rotich reiterated
Citing reckless driving and non-compliance with traffic laws as key causes of the deadly accidents, Rotich directed law enforcement agencies to step up road safety enforcement. He also urged SACCOs, boda boda operators, and Miraa traders to intensify civic education campaigns targeting drivers and other road users.
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One of the key proposals from the forum was the mandatory registration of all Miraa transport vehicles under SACCOs. According to Rotich, this will enhance traceability and accountability, making it easier to penalize drivers and owners involved in traffic offenses.
He further called for consistent use of speed monitoring devices to enforce NTSA-prescribed speed limits—particularly for Miraa transporters. In a move to enhance road safety infrastructure, Rotich blamed the theft of road signage on illegal scrap metal dealers and warned of a crackdown on unlicensed operators.
To improve accountability, SACCO leaders were instructed to assign and share vehicle registration numbers with their drivers. Rotich also challenged Miraa drivers to emulate flower transporters, who handle equally perishable goods but maintain safety standards.
Echoing these concerns, Eastern Regional Police Commander Charles Naibei revealed that human error accounts for 98% of road accidents nationwide. He stressed that only emergency vehicles are legally allowed to speed, warning Miraa drivers that violations will be met with immediate arrest.
To combat drug use among drivers, Naibei announced the deployment of sniffer dogs along major routes, particularly targeting Miraa transport checkpoints. He reiterated the dangers posed by stolen road signs, saying such acts directly contribute to road carnage.
NTSA Embu Regional Manager Reagan Muriithi also weighed in, calling for a robust civic education drive and warning vehicle owners against modifying vehicles post-inspection—a practice he termed a serious breach of road safety regulations. “Anyone caught modifying their vehicle after a KENHA inspection will be arrested and charged,” Muriithi warned. The Embu region NTSA boss confirmed that NTSA, in partnership with KENHA, will soon launch a regional crackdown on traffic violators.
KENHA representatives assured stakeholders that road signage along the Embu-Meru highway will be restored, and potholes patched starting next week. Upgrades on the Embu-Makutano stretch are scheduled for completion by mid-June, with the works including the construction of community bumps and installation of critical road signs.
During the forum, Miraa traders urged the government to consider refrigerated transport vehicles, noting that this would ease pressure to speed. They also proposed expansion of key transport routes and the construction of a regional airstrip to boost efficiency in Miraa logistics—a crop they described as Meru’s economic lifeline.
The forum ended with a strong consensus among government officials, police, and Miraa stakeholders: that urgent, collective action is needed to end the deadly pattern of Miraa transport-related accidents on the Embu- Meru highway.