Pastors and Kikuyu elders seek divine help on killer road

Following a string of deadly accidents along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway—between the Kamandura junction off the Mai Mahiu road and Ngarariga in Limuru—members of the Limuru Pastors Association and Kikuyu elders have conducted prayers to cleanse the road.

This comes after 12 people lost their lives within a record 24 hours. Another seven died earlier this week at the same spot when a private matatu overturned along the section. The cause of the accident is yet to be established.

Before the wreckage from that incident was even cleared, another accident occurred on 11 April, approximately two kilometres from the previous scene. This time, seven more people died.

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The Nairobi-bound matatu, which was ferrying passengers from Kijabe, is said to have hit a boulder and rolled, killing seven occupants on the spot.

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Neighbours in Kamandura reported hearing heavy braking followed by a loud bang. When the vehicle came to a stop, seven people were dead and many others injured.

The injured were taken to Tigoni Level Four Hospital, while the bodies were moved to the Tigoni morgue.

On Wednesday, Pastor Paul Wandati of the Limuru Pastors Association said they had gathered to pray and dedicate the highway to God.

“There have been tragic accidents happening between Kamandura and Ngarariga. We prayed and advised drivers to be cautious, especially during the Easter holidays. KENHA has also assured us that they will put the necessary road markings in place to help prevent further loss of life,” said Pastor Wandati.

He urged drivers to exercise extra caution along the short stretch, which has claimed numerous lives, causing untold suffering to families and the nation.

Pastor Moses Muthui of Jesus Glory Ministry in Limuru said the frequency of fatal accidents along the three-kilometre stretch prompted their spiritual intervention.

“Last week was particularly bad. More than ten people lost their lives in this section. Limuru tends to be misty and foggy during this season, and visibility is poor along this stretch. I call upon drivers to exercise caution to avoid more pain and loss for families,” said Pastor Muthui.

Isaac Ndereva, a local resident, emphasised that true national development must consider safety.

"The real definition of a country's growth is infrastructure. But if it is going to lead to such frequent deaths, one is left to wonder whether this progress is doing more harm than good," he said.

He noted that the Nakuru-Nairobi highway is a major economic artery and must be kept safe.

"It is incumbent upon us to use it responsibly, identify black spots, and observe basic traffic rules. For instance, in this section where multiple deaths have occurred, there’s a continuous yellow line indicating that overtaking is prohibited. Any head-on collision here points to a miscalculation—human error," said Ndereva.

He added that the Limuru community appreciates KENHA's commitment to expanding the road into a dual carriageway, but warned that even modern roads become death traps without discipline.

A few hours after the pastors left, Kikuyu elders dressed in traditional regalia gathered at the same spot to perform a cleansing ritual, aimed at warding off any spirits believed to be causing the frequent accidents. They also sought God’s intervention.