Fatal Joy Ride: Three Teens Die in Kirinyaga Boda-Boda Accident"

A road accident on Sunday, February 23, claimed the lives of three schoolchildren in Kirinyaga County's Gichugu Constituency.

The incident, which occurred along the Kimunye-Kutus road, involved a head-on collision between a motorcycle and a lorry, resulting in widespread grief and calls for accountability within the Kairegi village community. The deceased have been identified as Kelvin Mugambi, 17, a Form Two student at Kimunye Forest Secondary School; Morris Muriithi, 13, and Fidelious Ng'ang'a, 13, both Grade 9 learners at Kimunye Forest Primary School.

A fourth student, Hermaton Muriithi, also a Grade 9 learner, survived but is in critical condition at Kerugoya Referral Hospital. According to witness reports, the collision occurred when the motorcycle, driven by Kelvin Mugambi, attempted to overtake a private vehicle and collided with the oncoming lorry traveling from Kimunye to Kutus. The motorcycle, borrowed for a recreational ride, became the scene of the fatal crash. Authorities have arrested the lorry driver, who will be charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Kirinyaga-East Sub-County Police Commander Johnson Wachira has confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the precise circumstances of the accident. Police have also cautioned parents against allowing underage and untrained individuals to operate motorcycles. Families of the victims are calling for a thorough investigation, specifically targeting the individual who provided the motorcycle to the students.

Florence Gakuru, a cousin of the late Morris, emphasizes the dangers of allowing untrained children to operate motorcycles. Residents are also petitioning the government to install speed bumps along the Kimunye-Kutus road to mitigate future accidents.