Italian Driver Kills Three Including Toddler After Mowing Down Six Pedestrians at Kirinyaga Trading Centre

Three people have died, and three others sustained serious injuries after a vehicle veered off the road and rammed into pedestrians at Kibirigwi Trading Centre along the busy Sagana–Karatina Highway in Kirinyaga County.

The Thursday evening accident, which occurred at about 5 p.m., involved a Toyota Wish driven by an Italian national, Scavo Nicola Antonio.

According to Kirinyaga West Sub-County Police Commander Julius Gaya, the driver was travelling from Karatina towards Sagana when he allegedly lost control of the vehicle and struck six pedestrians who were standing on the left side of the road at Kibirigwi Trading Centre.

All six victims suffered multiple injuries and were rushed to Kibirigwi Health Centre for emergency treatment.

Among those affected were three pupils from Kibirigwi Primary School.

A three-year-old girl was the first victim to succumb to her injuries while undergoing treatment at Kibirigwi Health Centre.

Three other critically injured victims—a 24-year-old man and two women—were later transferred to Karatina General Hospital for specialized treatment. The young man subsequently died while receiving treatment, while a 63-year-old woman was pronounced dead on arrival at Jamii Hospital in Karatina after being referred from Karatina General Hospital.

The three survivors, all girls aged between nine and eleven years and pupils at Kibirigwi Primary School, remain admitted at Karatina General Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.

Police said the bodies of the deceased have been moved to a local mortuary pending post-mortem examinations.

Residents Attempt to Attack Driver

The tragic accident sparked outrage among residents, who gathered at the scene and attempted to lynch the driver moments after the crash.

Police officers intervened and rescued the driver from the angry crowd before escorting him to safety. The vehicle was left at the scene as officers worked to secure the area and begin investigations.

Some residents said they had planned to set the vehicle ablaze but were persuaded not to do so by police officers.

"We wanted to set the driver's vehicle on fire, but a police officer advised us against it because it would interfere with investigations," some residents said.

The incident triggered a major traffic snarl-up along the busy highway, disrupting movement for several hours.

Motorists travelling between Nairobi and Karatina were forced to seek alternative routes as police struggled to contain the situation and restore order.

Traffic remained severely affected between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., with long queues forming on both sides of the road.

Kirinyaga West Sub-County Police Commander Julius Gaya and Kiine Location Chief David Githinji later addressed residents and appealed for calm, eventually convincing the crowd to disperse and allowing normal traffic flow to resume at around 10 p.m.

Calls for Pedestrian Footbridge Intensify

The Toyota Wish involved in the accident sustained extensive damage to its left front section and was later towed to Sagana Police Station pending inspection and further investigations.

The tragedy has reignited concerns over road safety at Kibirigwi Trading Centre, where residents say accidents involving pedestrians have become common.

Community members are now demanding the speedy completion of a pedestrian footbridge along the dual carriageway, arguing that delays in the project have continued to expose residents, schoolchildren and traders to danger.

Residents say the area experiences heavy traffic throughout the day and that the absence of safe crossing infrastructure has contributed to multiple accidents over the years.

As families mourn the three victims, local leaders and residents are urging road authorities to fast-track safety measures to prevent further loss of life along one of Kirinyaga County's busiest highways.