Image: GEORGE OWITI
A mother and her daughter lost their lives in a devastating road accident in Machakos County, Kenya.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday night along the Kangundo-Mwala road in the Itoloni area, has left the community in shock and mourning.
The accident has also sparked outrage and calls for immediate action to improve road safety and infrastructure in the region.
The accident involved a motorcycle and a lorry transporting sand. The mother and daughter were traveling on the motorcycle when it was struck by the lorry, killing them instantly.
The husband, who is a teacher at Kangundo High School, was following them on another motorcycle. He witnessed the horrific accident but was not involved in the crash.
According to police sources, the accident was reported to Kangundo police station as a fatal road traffic incident.
Officers quickly responded to the scene, securing the area and transporting the bodies to Patjud Funeral Home, a private mortuary in Matungulu subcounty.
The lorry involved in the accident was impounded at the Kangundo police station, and the driver fled the scene, fearing an attack from irate members of the public.
The local community, in their anger and grief, attempted to set the lorry on fire, but police intervention prevented this from happening.
The tragic accident has brought to light the dire state of the roads in Machakos County and the lack of respect for motorcyclists by other road users.
Alexander Kilonzo, a local bodaboda rider, expressed his frustration and anger over the incident. "We face these dangers daily, and no one seems to care about our safety. Many road users do not respect us, and this often leads to fatal accidents," he said.
Dennis Zakayo, another bodaboda operator, echoed Kilonzo's sentiments, pointing out that the poor condition of the roads is a significant contributing factor to such accidents.
The scene of the fatal accident along Kangundo-Mwala highway on July 12, 2024
Image: HANDOUT
"Our roads are in terrible condition, and this accident could have been avoided if repairs were made. Local leaders have ignored our pleas for better road infrastructure, and we are paying the price," he stated.
The community's anger and frustration are palpable, and they are demanding immediate action from local authorities.
Residents and bodaboda operators are urging the government to improve road conditions and strictly enforce traffic rules.
They also want heavy vehicles like lorries to be restricted from traveling at night to prevent such accidents. "We have had enough of these accidents. The government must take action to ensure our safety on the roads," said Zakayo.
The lorry that crashed a mother and daughter to death along Kangundo – Mwala road at Itoloni area in Kangundo, Machakos County on July 11, 2024.
The tragedy has also deeply affected the staff and students at Kangundo High School, where the husband of the deceased woman works as a teacher.
Carlmax Ombasa, a fellow teacher at the school, expressed his sorrow over the loss of his colleague's wife and daughter. "It's a devastating loss for our colleague and the school community.
We hope the authorities will take the necessary steps to make our roads safer and prevent such tragedies in the future," he said.
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