MPs alarmed by rising miraa-related road crashes
The MPs said miraa drivers are notorious for speeding and disregarding traffic rules, often putting the lives of other road users at risk.
Members of Parliament have raised alarm over reckless driving by miraa transporters, blaming them for a surge in accidents along key highways.
The lawmakers now want firm action taken to stop the growing threat posed by drivers rushing to deliver the perishable stimulant from Meru to Nairobi.
The MPs said miraa drivers are notorious for speeding and disregarding traffic rules, often putting the lives of other road users at risk.
They shared personal experiences of near misses with miraa vehicles and called on the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to step in and address the situation urgently.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, led the calls, urging the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure to seek answers from the Ministry of Transport.
He asked for a clear statement on how the government plans to deal with the menace.
"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," Wetang’ula said.
The concerns came as MPs debated a request for a statement by Runyenjes MP Muchangi Karemba, who described the situation as dangerous and called for immediate and long-term solutions.
"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.
"This conduct is in direct contravention of the Traffic Act (Cap. 403), which governs road safety and driver behaviour."
The MPs said what should be a four-hour journey from Meru to Nairobi is often completed in under two hours, raising questions about the speeds involved and the risks taken on the road.
Embu County Woman Representative Pamela Njeru said strict action must be taken against drivers who endanger lives. She supported the demand for tougher enforcement of traffic laws to prevent further loss of life.
Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi and Tinderet MP Julius Melly also joined the call, saying Parliament must play a role in restoring order on the roads.
Mombasa County Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed, Samburu County Woman Representative Pauline Lenguris, and Saku MP Ali Raso shared similar concerns.
Lenguris said the dangers are evident on the Nanyuki-Isiolo road, where she has witnessed serious accidents linked to miraa vehicles.
She said, "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."
Raso added that miraa vehicles should have separate roads due to their extreme driving patterns.
Other MPs, including John Kiarie (Dagoretti South), Julius Rutto (Kesses), Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town), Ojiambo Oundo (Funyula), and Patrick Ntwiga (Chuka/Igambang’ombe), called on the authorities to take serious steps to curb the problem.
Oundo criticized traffic police for failing to enforce existing speed limits, saying the lack of control is putting all road users in danger.
"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 miraa vehicle overtaking me or coming head-on," he said.