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.
Speaking in Kirinyaga during the Jukwaa la Usalama county tour, the CS said the regional traffic commander, Elizabeth Vivi, has been given full authority to enforce all laws necessary to curb the menace.
“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 said.
Murkomen revealed that the attempts to engage vehicle owners and transporters through a scheduled meeting during his Eastern region tour were unsuccessful after stakeholders failed to show up.
“They refused to attend the meeting. So now, we will intensify enforcement until they are compelled to come to the table,” he stated.
He challenged politicians who claim such actions could harm the Miraa business to differentiate the morality of prioritising profit over human life, emphasising that it is not an attack on the Miraa trade, but a necessary move to safeguard lives
“Let’s be honest, between Miraa profits and a child being hit by a car, which one matters more? We cannot sacrifice people’s lives at the altar of profit,” the CS stated.
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 attended the event at Kerugoya, also raised concern over the rising threat of miraa driver-related road accidents, noting 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.
In addition, the governor hailed the Jukwaa La Usalama initiative as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to working hand in hand with counties to secure communities and strengthen service delivery.
She highlighted that security was not merely the absence of danger but the presence of peace, trust, and opportunity for residents.
On youth radicalisation into crime and the menace of illicit brews, the governor called for a united front to dismantle criminal networks and illicit brews, rehabilitate victims, and provide alternative livelihoods.
She further stressed the need to strengthen community policing and Nyumba Kumi initiatives, which she said play a vital role in intelligence gathering and early detection of crime.
“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 modernise security operations.
By Mutai Kipngetich
