It took GSU bosses heading to slain officer’s home 5hrs to go past a 5km-stretch

The burial of a GSU officer, who was last Saturday killed after a vehicle he was travelling in was blown up by an explosive device in Garissa, was delayed by at least 5 hours after mourners were stuck on a muddy Kangai-Kimicha road in Mwea, Kirinyaga County.

Senior GSU officers, who were headed to Kennedy Kinyua Muriithi’s home on Saturday, had to spend 5 hours on a 5-km stretch due to the poor condition of the road.

Heavy rainfall which has, of late, been experienced in the area worsened the condition of Kangai-Kimicha road, rendering it nearly-impassable.

Local residents accused Kirinyaga Governor, Anne Mumbi, and Mwea MP, Kabinga Wachira, of neglecting their cries over the road’s poor state.

Mourners were, on Saturday, forced to abandon their vehicles and walk on the muddy road so as to attend 21-year-old Muriithi’s interment.

Locals said besides the Saturday’s incident, it was impossible for them to use the road to transport their farm produce to Kagio market on a daily basis.

“We give area governor and MP an ultimatum of 14 days to carpet the road. If they fail to take action within that 2-week window, then we will march to their offices and coerce them to act,” said area resident Denis Muriuki.

Besides transportation of goods, and people to work, residents say many school-going children have been forced to stay at home, given they cannot walk over the muddy path.

Muriithi was among 11 GSU officers who were killed last Saturday, October 12, after their vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device in Degow area in Garissa.

It is believed terrorist group, al-Shabaab, was responsible for the attack.