A young girl in Baringo Central tragically lost her life after being struck by an unidentified vehicle near the Seretunin junction along the Kabarnet-Kabartonjo Road.
According to Seretunin Chief Patrick Kiprop, the vehicle was moving from Kabarnet towards Kabartonjo at the time of the incident.
The driver, suspected to be under the influence of alcohol, reportedly fled the scene at high speed after hitting the girl on Tuesday afternoon, as stated by Kiprop in a phone interview with KNA.
The girl was on her way to church, intending to join her fellow Sunday school classmates for final rehearsals of songs and a drama presentation scheduled for the previous evening during an overnight vigil celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
“This is a deeply saddening event, especially as many are looking forward to a joyful Christmas. We have lost a young Kenyan due to the recklessness of a driver,” remarked the chief.
Kiprop urged all road users, particularly drivers, to exercise vigilance and refrain from operating vehicles while impaired by drugs or alcohol, especially during this busy holiday season.
He also called on parents and guardians to closely supervise and instruct children on safe behaviors during the festive period.
“It is the hope of everyone to celebrate both the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the New Year, and thus it is essential for all to be considerate of the safety and well-being of others,” added Kiprop.
The Chief noted that the location of the vehicle and the fleeing driver remains unknown, but law enforcement is actively investigating the matter.
In the meantime, the girl’s body has been transported to the mortuary at Baringo County Referral Hospital.
