Editor's Review

Murkomen has issued stern orders to arrest and prosecute speeding Miraa drivers.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued stern orders to arrest and prosecute speeding Miraa drivers who are blamed for causing road accidents along the Embu-Nairobi highway.

In a statement released on Friday, August 22, Murkomen announced that police, working in collaboration with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), have been instructed to take action against reckless miraa transporters.

"To contain the disturbingly high number of road accidents along the Embu-Nairobi highway, which are largely caused by speeding miraa drivers, the police, working with NTSA, are under instruction to arrest and prosecute them," Murkomen stated. "We cannot prioritise profit over human life."

This directive follows earlier warnings issued by Murkomen in May regarding the conduct of miraa (khat) transporters on Kenyan roads.

The CS committed to eliminating rogue drivers who violate traffic regulations by making fast deliveries.

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During that announcement, Murkomen had revealed plans for a comprehensive joint enforcement strategy involving multiple agencies, including the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and NTSA.

An accident involving a Miraa pickup.

He had emphasized that while the government supports the miraa and muguka trade, it would not permit operations outside legal boundaries or actions that endanger road users.

“We need to agree with finality that when miraa vehicles overspeed, they should be stopped,” Murkomen stated. “If we stop drivers racing at 200km per hour, stakeholders should not claim this government wants to hurt miraa and muguka businesses.”

Friday's statement was part of Murkomen's broader security assessment of Kirinyaga County, where he acknowledged the area's economic significance and relative stability.

"Kirinyaga County plays a critical role in our economy, with its thriving coffee, tea, and rice sectors providing livelihoods to many Kenyans," Murkomen noted.

He also highlighted significant progress in combating illegal alcohol in Kirinyaga County, announcing that the area's ranking had improved to number 35 in the fight against illicit brews and adulterated alcohol.

"More needs to be done to stamp out the menace and shut down bars still operating near schools and homes," he said.