Kirinyaga: Three Junior Secondary School Pupils Killed in Tragic Road Accident on Kutus-Kimunye Highway
Police in Kirinyaga County have reported a heartbreaking accident that claimed the lives of three junior secondary school pupils who were involved in a collision along the Kutus-Kimunye Road.
According to law enforcement, the three children, all students from the same school, died on the spot when the motorcycle they were riding on crashed head-on with a lorry. Kirinyaga East Sub-County Police Commander, Johnson Wachira, confirmed the tragedy, stating that the motorcycle rider, who was also a pupil, sustained severe injuries.
How the Accident Happened
The deadly accident took place on the evening of Sunday, February 23, in Gatugura, Gichugu, Kirinyaga County. Witnesses said the motorcycle, which was carrying four young learners, attempted to overtake a saloon car but unfortunately collided with an oncoming lorry.
According to police reports, the lorry was traveling from Kimunye to Kutus when it rammed into the motorcycle. The impact was so severe that three of the four children died instantly, while the fourth child, who was riding the motorcycle, suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
Speaking to Newshub.co.ke, Commander Wachira disclosed that all the victims were pupils of Kimunye Primary School in Kairegi village. He also revealed that the lorry involved in the accident belonged to a former area chief.
“The motorcycle was trying to overtake a saloon car when it collided head-on with the lorry. Sadly, three children lost their lives at the scene, while the young rider was taken to the hospital in critical condition,” Wachira explained.
Locals Blame Reckless Driving and Lack of Road Safety Measures
Residents of the area have expressed shock and sorrow over the tragic deaths, describing it as a huge loss to the community. Many locals called for urgent road safety interventions to prevent similar accidents in the future.
“This is heartbreaking. These children were from the same school, and their families are devastated. We are all mourning their loss,” said a resident.
Another local, Purity Wangui, urged the government to install speed bumps and streetlights along the busy Kutus-Kimunye highway to enhance road safety.
“We have witnessed too many accidents along this stretch, yet our leaders are silent. Something must be done to improve safety before more lives are lost,” she lamented.
Meanwhile, the police commander cautioned parents against allowing underage children to operate motorcycles, noting that aside from the risks involved, the law strictly prohibits it.
Following the accident, both the lorry and the motorcycle were towed to Kianyaga Police Station for further investigations, while the bodies of the three children were taken to Kerugoya Hospital Mortuary.
Other Recent Boda Boda Fatalities in Kirinyaga
This tragic accident comes shortly after two separate road crashes in Kirinyaga County, which claimed the lives of two boda boda riders.
Both incidents occurred at Red Soil along the Mwea-Embu Highway at different times. In the first case, the rider was rushed to Kimbimbi Sub-County Hospital by a good Samaritan but was pronounced dead upon arrival. In the second accident, the boda boda rider died instantly at the scene.
These consecutive tragedies have raised concerns about road safety in Kirinyaga County, with residents calling on authorities to implement stricter traffic regulations and improve road infrastructure to prevent further loss of lives.
Join Gen Z official Whatsapp Channel To Stay Updated On time the ongoing situation https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
