Kirinyaga County is in mourning following a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of three children on Monday morning. The incident occurred at Kibingoti along the Sagana-Karatina road when the motorcycle they were riding collided with a lorry from the rear.
Kirinyaga West police commander Moses Koskei identified the victims as Alex Mwangi, John Macharia, and David Muchiri. The three were traveling towards Karatina from Sagana when the accident happened. They sustained severe head injuries due to the impact and were rushed to Karatina Hospital. Unfortunately, two of them were pronounced dead on arrival, while the third succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment.
According to family members, Muchiri had completed his high school education in 2024 and was waiting to join university, while Macharia was a Form Three student. Mwangi had also finished high school last year.
The bodies of the deceased were transferred to Karatina mortuary as relatives and friends gathered to mourn their untimely demise.
This latest accident comes just days after three learners from Kairegi village were involved in another road accident at Gatugura along the Kutus-Kimunye road. Additionally, two months ago, two other children lost their lives when a motorcycle they had hired rolled over in Ngurubani Town, Mwea.
Speaking about the incident, Commander Koskei urged parents to keep minors off motorcycles in a bid to curb similar tragedies. He emphasized the dangers of young and inexperienced riders using motorcycles, particularly on busy highways where they are exposed to fast-moving vehicles.
“The loss of young lives in road accidents is deeply concerning. We urge parents to monitor their children’s movements and discourage them from using motorcycles, especially without proper safety gear,” said Koskei.
Motorcycle-related accidents have been on the rise in Kenya, often involving young riders and pillion passengers without helmets or protective gear. Authorities continue to call for stringent measures, including enforcement of traffic regulations and awareness campaigns, to address the growing concern.
As families in Kirinyaga come to terms with this heartbreaking loss, road safety remains a critical issue that requires urgent intervention to prevent further tragedies.
