A 23-year-old man has lost his life, and two others are nursing serious injuries following a tragic road accident along the BAT–Ugweri road in Mbeere North, Embu County.
The fatal crash involved a motorcycle and a public address vehicle belonging to United Democratic Alliance (UDA) parliamentary candidate Leonard Muthende. According to witnesses, the accident occurred when both the motorcycle and the campaign vehicle attempted to avoid a pothole, resulting in a head-on collision. The impact was so severe that the rider died on the spot.
Stephen Macharia, a cousin of the deceased, said the young men were on their way to a football tournament in Siakago when the tragedy struck.
“We have lost our cousin through a road accident, a very young man whose vision has been cut short,” Macharia said.
The victim’s sister, Victoria Nyakio, described the loss as a devastating blow to their family.
“He was full of life and had big dreams. We are shattered by this loss,” Nyakio said tearfully, calling for justice.
In a statement, UDA aspirant Leonard Muthende expressed deep sorrow over the incident and assured that his team was supporting the affected families. He condemned attempts by some individuals to politicise the tragedy, terming such actions cheap and insensitive.
“This is not a moment for politics but a time to stand with the families in grief,” Muthende stated, adding that he would fully cooperate with authorities investigating the crash.
The body of the deceased was taken to Gakwegori Funeral Home, while the two injured victims are receiving treatment at Embu Level 5 Hospital.
Police have launched investigations into the incident to determine the exact cause of the accident.
