NAIROBI, Kenya – Members of Parliament (MPs) are calling for urgent measures to address the reckless driving habits of miraa transporters, particularly along the busy Nairobi-Meru highway, which they say are putting lives at risk.
The issue was raised during a debate in the National Assembly, where several MPs shared personal experiences and expressed concerns about the safety hazards posed by vehicles transporting miraa, a widely consumed stimulant in Kenya.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula led the calls for action, describing the reckless driving by miraa transporters as a growing threat.
Wetang’ula shared his own close calls with miraa trucks, noting that he had narrowly avoided a head-on collision multiple times due to the dangerous driving practices of these transporters.
“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.
Runyenjes MP Muchangi Karemba, who initiated the discussion by requesting a statement on the matter, pointed out that the situation was worsening.
Karemba explained that the rush to deliver the highly perishable crop to Nairobi markets was leading to widespread disregard for traffic laws, speed limits, and law enforcement instructions.
“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,” Karemba said. “They often ignore traffic regulations, speed limits, and even law enforcement instructions, making the roads dangerous for all.”
MPs were unified in their call for immediate action from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Ministry of Transport.
Karemba requested that the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure provide a full report on what steps the government was taking to address this issue, both in the short and long term.
Several MPs backed Karemba’s remarks, stressing the need for stricter regulations and more severe penalties for those who violate traffic laws.
Embu County Woman Representative Pamela Njeru echoed this sentiment, urging for harsher punishments for drivers who break the rules.
Julius Melly, MP for Tinderet, also emphasized the need for MPs to take the lead in ensuring that order is restored on the roads.
“We must be the ones to ensure that sanity returns to our roads,” he said.
Samburu County Woman Representative Pauline Lenguris shared her own experiences traveling along dangerous routes, recounting how she had witnessed accidents involving reckless miraa drivers.
“Sometimes, they cause many accidents. I have witnessed accidents while traveling to Samburu along the Nanyuki-Isiolo route. The drivers should adhere to NTSA rules to avoid accidents,” Lenguris said.
Ali Raso, MP for Saku, suggested a more radical solution, proposing that miraa transporters should have designated roads to prevent them from endangering other road users.
His proposal was supported by several other MPs, who agreed that immediate action was necessary to curb the reckless driving that has become too common.
Funyula MP Ojiambo Oundo also raised concerns about the failure of the police to control speeding, noting that he too had experienced the dangers firsthand.
“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 vehicle transporting miraa overtaking me or coming head-on,” Oundo said.
The debate continues to grow as more MPs join the call for urgent intervention to curb the reckless behavior of miraa transporters, with a clear message: stricter enforcement, better regulation, and safer roads are needed to protect the lives of Kenyans.
