Meru residents decry reckless driving by Miraa transporters

A group of residents from the Miraa-growing regions, frustrated by the persistent reckless driving of Miraa transporters, has called on the government to take action.

Residents have expressed concern that reckless driving is endangering lives in the area, warning that they may resort to taking matters into their own hands if action is not taken.

For years, Miraa drivers have faced accusations of disregarding safety while transporting the product from Meru to Nairobi, North Eastern, Coast, and other regions.

They want the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) to intervene over rogue farmers and drivers.

Kimathi Munjuri, Chairman of the Nyambene Miraa Farmers and Traders Association (Nyamita), emphasized that while traffic police are primarily responsible for addressing overspeeding among transporters, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) also has a critical role to play.

"We are deeply concerned about the alarming number of lives lost in accidents involving vehicles that transport our Miraa. We can no longer stand by and let this continue," Munjuri stated.

He explained that the association has been actively educating Miraa drivers and vehicle owners on the importance of safe driving.

He stressed that drivers must understand the risks they face, noting that in the event of an accident, it is often the drivers who suffer the worst consequences, leaving their families to cope with the aftermath.

"The insurance will handle compensation for the damaged vehicle, while the Miraa will be transferred to the next available vehicle headed to the market—and in most cases, the traders complied," he said.

Munjuri said they've been urging drivers to consider how these frequent accidents are damaging the reputation of the Miraa sector.

"But beyond talk, we need action. It’s time for the Agriculture and Food Authority to enforce the Miraa regulations. Moving forward, we will also strengthen our collaboration with traffic police and the NTSA to curb these deadly incidents," Munjuri emphasized.

The Directorate of Miraa, Pyrethrum, and Other Industrial Crops under AFA is responsible for overseeing and promoting best practices across the entire value chain—from production and processing to marketing, grading, storage, collection, transportation, and warehousing of these crops.

In addition, AFA plays a key regulatory role by issuing licenses to all stakeholders involved in the Miraa industry, including exporters, nursery operators, and those engaged in packaging, storage, and transport.

The established regulations also outline specific standards for vehicles used in Miraa transportation and require that individuals involved in handling the crop receive proper training.

Earlier this week, a boda boda rider lost his life after being struck, prompting an uproar from fellow operators who staged protests and vowed to take action against those responsible for the incident.

In January, angry residents torched a miraa pick-up truck after Geoffrey Kinyua was fatally hit at Kianjiru on the Mwea-Embu highway.

Many voiced concerns over the frequent accidents involving these vehicles and called for a ban on their use of the Mwea-Embu route, citing numerous deaths and serious injuries.