Govt to relocate hawkers operating along highways, CS Murkomen says
Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen when he visited an accident scene at Londiani Junction on July 1 where a truck rammed into vehicles and hawkers. He said the government is working on relocating hawkers and open-air markets along the highways.
The death toll following the grisly Londiani Junction accident has risen to 49 as of Saturday 9am, Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen said when he visited the scene.
According to the CS, the government is working on relocating hawkers and open-air markets along the highways.
The Friday, June 30, 7pm accident involved a truck that was travelling from Nakuru towards Kericho that lost control and rammed into several matatus, private vehicles and motorcycles. It also crashed into hawkers by the roadside on the Muhoroni turn-off.
The CS revealed that the truck that was involved in the accident was not locally owned and is registered in Rwanda.
The truck's brakes are said to have failed as it descended a slope on the highway.
“It is difficult to know the roadworthiness of the truck at this stage as we will have to engage the Rwandan government on this,” Mr Murkomen said.
He added that the enforcement of traffic laws should be uniform in the East African region so as to curb accidents and loss of lives.
"Drivers will be subjected to medical tests and those found to be involved in traffic abuse will have their licences revoked,” he said.
According to the CS, those with high blood pressure and diabetes among other chronic diseases that hamper driving concentration on highways will also be affected by the enforcement of traffic laws.
Hawkers relocation
Mr Murkomen said that moving forward, County governments should secure land for the construction of open-air markets along the highways adding that the projects will be funded by the national government.
"I will issue directive after consultations to ensure all Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kura) roads are designed in a manner that will have people conducting business without endangering the lives of others,” he added.
Mr Murkomen also commended the media for the way it covered the tragedy.
"The media has been consistent, accurate, and responsible in their reporting of the incident and I wish to thank you for that," Mr Murkomen said.
Mr Murkomen visited the scene on Saturday morning in the company of Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Kericho Governor Erick Mutai, Deputy Governor Fred Kirui, Kipkelion East Member of Parliament Joseph Cherorot and his Belgut counterpart Nelson Koech.
Dr Mutai said his administration will work with the national government to curb road carnage in the region.
"We would not want to see a repeat of such an accident in the future. It is unfortunate that most of those who have perished are women and youth who were eking out a living for their families," Dr Mutai said.
Principal Secretaries - Raymond Omollo, (Internal Security) and Mr Alfred Alfred K'ombudo (Trade) and Kericho County Commissioner Michael Lesimam were among those who visited the scene on Saturday.
