A tragic road accident in Athi River, Machakos County, has left one person dead, a woman driver injured, and a vehicle reduced to ashes after angry residents descended on the scene.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening along Devki-Kinanie Road near Havest Company. According to police reports, the accident happened at around 7.30 pm when a Toyota Axio, driven by a woman identified as Mercy Jepngetich, collided head-on with a motorcycle. The rider, a 30-year-old man named Joseph Watitwa Masibo, sustained severe head injuries and died instantly. He was carrying a pillion passenger, who was injured and rushed to an unknown hospital.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the motor vehicle was being driven on the wrong lane at the time of the accident. The car was heading towards Kinanie from the Devki side, while the motorcycle was traveling in the opposite direction.
The fatal crash sparked outrage among members of the public who quickly gathered at the scene. Enraged by the death of the rider, they turned on the driver, beating her up before police officers arrived. She was rescued and rushed to Shalom Community Hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment for her injuries.
The mob’s fury did not end there. They torched the Toyota Axio, reducing it to a burnt-out shell. Police later visited the scene, processed it, and left the vehicle to cool down before moving it to Athi River Police Station for further inspection.
Meanwhile, the rider’s body was moved to Shalom Community Hospital Mortuary, where it awaits postmortem examination. Investigations are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of the accident and to determine whether reckless driving was involved.
Authorities have condemned the mob attack, warning residents against taking the law into their own hands. They stressed that such acts not only endanger lives but also interfere with investigations.
The Athi River road accident highlights the dangers of reckless driving and the rising cases of mob justice in Kenya, where angered residents often react violently in the aftermath of fatal accidents. Police have urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads and the public to allow law enforcement agencies to handle such cases through legal procedures.
