Three Killed as Vehicle Rams Pedestrians at Kibirigwi on Sagana-Karatina Road

Three people died and three others sustained serious injuries after a vehicle ploughed into a group of pedestrians at Kibirigwi Trading Centre along the Sagana–Karatina Road in Ndia, Kirinyaga County, on Thursday evening.

Kirinyaga West Sub-County Police Commander Julius Gaya confirmed the accident occurred around 5 p.m. It involved a Toyota Wish driven by Scavo Nicola Antonio, an Italian national, travelling from Karatina towards Sagana.

The driver lost control and hit six pedestrians standing on the left side of the road. All victims suffered multiple injuries and received initial treatment at Kibirigwi Health Centre. Among them were three pupils from Kibirigwi Primary School.

A three-year-old girl died at the health centre. A 24-year-old man succumbed while undergoing treatment at Karatina General Hospital. A 63-year-old woman was pronounced dead on arrival at Jamii Hospital in Karatina after referral. The three survivors, girls aged nine to 11, remain admitted at Karatina General Hospital.

The bodies have been moved to a local mortuary pending post-mortem examinations. Police towed the damaged Toyota Wish, which sustained left front-side impact, to Sagana Police Station for inspection.

Residents reacted angrily to the crash. They attempted to lynch the driver before police intervened and escorted him to safety. Some expressed intent to burn the vehicle, but officers warned that would interfere with investigations.

The incident triggered a major traffic disruption on the busy highway between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Motorists heading between Nairobi and Karatina had to use alternative routes while security teams restored order.

Police Commander Gaya and Kiine Location Chief David Githinji addressed the crowd, persuading residents to disperse. Normal traffic flow resumed around 10 p.m.

The tragedy has renewed local demands for completion of a pedestrian footbridge on the dual carriageway section. Residents argue that delays in the project have contributed to repeated accidents at the trading centre.

This stretch of the Sagana–Karatina Road carries significant traffic volumes as part of the broader Thika–Sagana–Makutano corridor improvements. Pedestrian safety remains a persistent challenge at informal crossing points near markets and schools.

Such incidents often highlight gaps between road infrastructure upgrades and the needs of roadside communities. Calls for footbridges and other pedestrian facilities frequently surface after serious crashes involving non-motorised users.

Investigations continue into the circumstances of the loss of control. Authorities will examine vehicle condition, driver actions, and road factors at the site.

For the affected families in Kibirigwi, the losses compound the daily risks faced along this key route. The three surviving schoolgirls continue to receive care as the community mourns.