A section of locals near the wreckage of a lorry torched along Namanga Road at Korrompoi area in Isinya, Kajiado County on July 16, 2025/ GEORGE OWITIIrate residents on Tuesday evening torched a
lorry after it knocked down a mother and child, killing them on the spot along
the Nairobi–Namanga Road.
Isinya Subcounty Police Commander
Simon Lokitari said the mother and her child were aboard a motorcycle when they
died in the accident that occurred at the Korrompoi area in Isinya Subcounty at
about 4:35 p.m.
Lokitari said a boda boda rider
ferrying the duo was crossing the road when they were knocked down during the
fatal road traffic accident.
"The incident happened at
around 4:35 p.m. It involved an Isuzu truck that was headed towards Kitengela
town and a motorbike ridden by a boda boda operator that was headed in the same
direction," Lokitari said.
The police boss spoke to The Star
on Wednesday.
Lokitari said the lorry knocked down
the motorcycle that was crossing the road to the right diversion at the
Korrompoi area near the bridge.
"In the process, the woman and
her child were fatally injured. They died on the spot," Lokitari said.
He said the deceased woman was
identified as Lucy Mwikali, 30, while her son was identified as Alex Musanga,
4.
Lokitari said the boda boda rider
disappeared into the crowd immediately after the incident, leaving his wreckage
at the scene. He is yet to be identified.
"The rider disappeared into the
crowd. He remains unknown. He didn't die. The motor vehicle’s driver sustained
serious head injuries and was rushed to a local private hospital within Kitengela
Township for treatment," Lokitari said.
He said the driver, Lewis Ongiri,
was subjected to mob injustice by rowdy members of the public.
Lokitari said members of the public
torched the lorry after the incident.
They later barricaded Namanga Road,
denying police access to the scene to remove the bodies.
"Traffic officers from
Kitengela and Isinya, alongside myself, responded to the scene. We tried to
negotiate with them so they could allow us to collect the bodies, which they
later did. However, they stole from the lorry and vandalised it after torching
it," Lokitari said.
The incident led to a traffic
snarl-up along the road that stretched several kilometres from Isinya to
Kitengela. It lasted from the time the accident occurred until 11:00 p.m.
Lokitari said they moved the bodies
to Shalom Community Hospital Mortuary in Athi River, Machakos County, at the
public’s request.
He said there was a pastor who
claimed to know the deceased woman.
The police boss said they were
forced to hurl teargas canisters at the protesters to clear the road.
"We hurled teargas canisters to
disperse the protestors and removed the wreckage from the road, thereby
restoring normalcy in traffic flow," Lokitari said.
He said the rioting locals raised
issues about speed bumps. They wanted them erected on the road by KeNHA.
"I have talked to KeNHA
officials who promised to visit the scene for action. They promised to either
erect speed bumps or road signage in the area. The stage should also be removed
from the bridge," Lokitari said.
