Three people lost their lives while three others sustained serious injuries in a grisly accident along the Mwea-Embu Highway in Kirinyaga County. The crash occurred on the morning of September 14, 2025, and involved two Probox vehicles transporting muguka and a boda boda.
According to eyewitness accounts, the two Probox vehicles were speeding side by side as they headed towards Makutano from Ngurubani. The drivers appeared to be in a race to reach Nairobi earlier than their competitors in order to supply muguka to the markets. Their reckless driving set the stage for disaster when one of the vehicles collided head-on with a motorbike that was approaching from the opposite direction.
The impact was devastating. The boda boda rider was killed instantly, while the driver of one of the Probox vehicles also died on the spot. A pillion passenger on the motorcycle suffered severe head injuries and later succumbed while receiving treatment in hospital. The remaining occupants of the vehicles sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Witnesses at the scene described the incident as chaotic, with car parts scattered across the highway. They said the Probox drivers were overtaking recklessly, even forcing one vehicle into a head-on collision as it tried to overtake a tuk-tuk with little room to maneuver.
Residents of the area have since raised fresh concerns about the safety of the Mwea-Embu Highway, describing the location as a notorious black spot. They are calling on authorities to take urgent measures to reduce accidents by either expanding the road or installing speed bumps to slow down motorists.
The accident once again highlights the dangers of reckless driving and the risks associated with the growing muguka trade, where transporters often compete aggressively to be the first to deliver their loads to urban markets. The pressure to outpace rivals has repeatedly been cited as a cause of speeding and fatal crashes on major highways.
As investigations continue, the tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the need for stricter traffic enforcement and improved road safety measures, particularly in high-risk zones where reckless competition among drivers has become common.
