Two individuals lost their lives when the pickup truck they were in plunged into the Nyamindi River at Kaboro Bridge in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, on Thursday evening.
The incident, which occurred around 7 PM, was confirmed by the Gichugu Sub-County Police Commander. At the time, the pickup was carrying five passengers. Two of them, now confirmed deceased, remain trapped inside the submerged vehicle, while three others were able to escape.
The truck was transporting logs to Kiamugumo Village in Ngariama Ward when it lost control and veered off the road into the river.
“We are currently investigating the cause of the accident. Our team has been on-site since last night, collaborating with local residents to recover the vehicle and retrieve the bodies,” stated the police commander.
Ngariama Ward MCA Daniel Muriithi Kibinga identified the victims as Grace Kithii Njeru, a secretary at Kiamugumo Girls Secondary School, and her nephew, Vincent Kiura, who was driving the truck.
“The driver was the woman’s nephew. This is particularly tragic, especially since her husband, a banker, recently passed away,” Kibinga remarked.
MCA Kibinga pointed out that the road at Kaboro Bridge is in poor condition, which may have played a role in the accident. He also mentioned that rescue efforts were being hindered by the high water levels and large rocks in the river.
Residents from Karucho and Mbiri, who stayed by the riverbank overnight, managed to recover the vehicle’s number plate. Led by Joseph Kamau, they urged the government to improve the road and install proper guardrails at the bridge.
“The road from Karucho to Mbiri is in dire need of repair. We are calling for it to be murramed and equipped with safety guardrails to prevent future tragedies,” Kamau stated.
