By Munene Kamau
Two pupils were injured when a speeding miraa vehicle hit them, as they were crossing a road at Thiba village, Mwea, Kirinyaga County.
Angered by the accident, residents burnt the vehicle and looted tonnes of miraa.
The girls from a private school were hit by the vehicle at 8am on Wednesday, and were rushed to Mwea Medical Clinic.
One of the victims, who is a Standard Eight pupil had a fracture on her left leg, health workers at the facility said. The other girl in Class Seven, however, suffered minor body injuries. Furious residents first looted the cargo destined for Nairobi from Mbeere. They then stole parts from the vehicle. Police fired several times in the air to disperse the mob, but it was too late.
A civic leader from the area Cyprian Kangeri blamed the driver for being careless and disregarding other road users. “These miraa drivers have no regard for traffic rules. This is not the first time such an incident is happening. We are now calling upon the Government to instill discipline on miraa drivers since the road belongs to everyone,” he said.
Mwea South DC Peter Lelei, who arrived at the scene moments later, however, cautioned the public against taking the law into their hands. He said since the vehicle had stopped and all its occupants and the driver fled from the scene, residents should have guarded it until police arrived.
Two wrongs
“You have burnt down the vehicle, the driver, and his crew has fled while the two children have been injured. You should know that two wrongs do not make a right,” he said.
The shell was later towed to the nearby Wang’uru Police Station. Other miraa vehicles avoided the route on Wednesday.
