Mombasa Road delivers loads of agony to residents of Kinyambu village

Thirteen months ago today, YESU passed on after being hit by a speeding truck. YESU was what people widely knew Daniel Kiio, a one-time manamba whose work-day entailed shuttling between Kibwezi, Kinyambu, Machinery markets, and back.

  

Nobody knows where he got this nickname or the motivation behind it. 

Before he met his premature death on February 25, 2012, he had dropped touting and involved himself with crop farming and other mainstream economic activities. In fact, the last time we bumped into each other, he was ferrying a load of sisal poles from DWA Estate on his newly acquired bicycle, ostensibly headed for Kinyambu market, 195 kilometers south of Nairobi. When I learned of his demise, I could not resist updating on Facebook that Mombasa Road was more of a curse than a blessing for Kinyambu villagers.

Going forward, Mombasa Road is still a curse to the residents of Kinyambu. Scores of villagers have fallen victims to accidents involving trucks, buses or even motorbikes. I have lost count on the number of people killed in road accidents in the section of the road between Kibwezi and Machinery markets. Many more have undergone amputations. In my estimation, this number is higher than in any other section of the road of equal measure. 

Muthama, 10, an amputee, poses for the picture while resting on his undersized homemade underarm crutch. In his infancy, he was run over by a bus while crawling across Mombasa Road in pursuit of his mother who had just crossed the road near Manyanga, Kibwezi. Photo: Pius Maundu

This, then, begs the question on whether the victims are to blame.

Not in any meaningful way.

Instead, many of the accidents in this section of the road are attributable to a set of interesting factors. Terrain is the most notable. Valleys and corners characterize this section of Mombasa Road. In most cases, when drivers are approaching such valleys, thickets obscure their visibility of the oncoming vehicles uphill. 

High frequency of road accidents in this section of the road has something to do with its historical background. Traditionally, this region has been known to harbor the most notorious carjackers and thugs way laying trucks to annex their cargo. A story is told that a local legislator was once a beneficiary of this business. To compound this fright, the markets in this section have conspicuously gone without electricity. 

But the region is now safe. Kaleidoscopes greet travelers as they transverse the markets dotting this 10-kilometer section of the road. There are Administration Police posts in all the markets along the section of the road. This notwithstanding, the difficulty in convincing motorists, especially those who are cognizant of this background, to warm to the developments is imaginable. This way, drivers, especially truck drivers traveling at night do not take any risks by giving way to apparently obstructing cyclists or pedestrians. 

Recklessness of drivers in this section of the road is cause for increased road accidents. Oftentimes, this section enjoys low levels of traffic. This explains the tendency of drivers to drive at very high speeds. The result is a situation where such drivers face difficulties controlling their vehicles in the event of an obstruction by, for instance, a cyclist. Reckless driving is notorious with motorcyclists, considering the proximity of the area with Makindu market, home to Makindu Motors, the stockists of affordable Chinese brands of motorcycles.

Riders, convinced that they have learned the ropes from their friends, soon get to the road, only to find the thrill of speed irresistible. A sizeable number are oblivious of the dangers of riding without protective clothing and helmet. It is confirmed that Makindu District Hospital has a special ward for victims of motorbike accidents. And their numbers have skyrocketed since the installation of Makindu Motors in the vicinity.

Any solution?

To tame the increased road carnage, it is imperative that scores of stakeholders come together. Kenya National Highways Authority, KENHA, for instance, should sponsor campaigns on the media urging drivers to exercise caution while on Mombasa Road. Through collaboration with the National Police Service, KENHA should reaffirm the fact that drivers do not need to be frightened when driving along this section to the point of endangering other people’s lives. Without this intervention, the curse that is Mombasa Road will continue haunting Kinyambu village taking at its will hard working Kenyans such as YESU.