Church demands strict traffic rules enforcement as victims of Naivasha accident are buried
By Mathew Ndungu, January 14, 2026Grief, anguish, and unanswered questions hung heavy in the air at Ndundu village in Gatundu South as four members of one family were laid to rest, their lives cut short in a tragic road crash that has reignited calls for tougher measures to curb Kenya’s worsening road carnage.
Leaders speak out
As sobbing relatives and neighbours struggled to come to terms with the loss, church leaders and politicians used the sombre burial ceremony to demand stricter enforcement of traffic laws, warning that laxity, corruption and reckless driving are killing innocent Kenyans.
The four, a catechist, James Njoroge of Ridgeways Catholic Parish, his wife Teresia Wanjiru, and their two sons—were among nine people who died in a horrific accident at the Karai area in Naivasha on January 5, 2026.
Speaking during the requiem Mass on January 14, 2026, Embu Diocese Bishop Peter Kimani urged authorities and road users alike to take responsibility before more families are destroyed.
“This pain we are witnessing today is avoidable. Road deaths are not acts of God, they are caused by human negligence,” Bishop Kimani said.
“Every stakeholder, from the government to the driver behind the wheel, must play their role to stop this carnage,” the bishop added.
The bishop strongly criticised reckless behaviour among public transport operators, citing overspeeding, careless driving and disregard for traffic rules as major contributors to fatal accidents.
“These habits are a direct recipe for death on our roads,” he warned.
Ridgeways Catholic Parish priest Calistus Oduor echoed the sentiments, lamenting the devastating social impact of road crashes.
“Families are being shattered, children are being orphaned and many are left with lifelong injuries,” Fr Oduor said.
“We must seriously consider retooling and reskilling PSV drivers, especially those operating long-distance routes,” Oduor affirmed.
Calls for reforms
Political leaders also called for urgent institutional action.
Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe challenged agencies tasked with road safety to step up enforcement.
“We already have good laws in this country,” Kagombe said. “If implemented properly by NTSA, the National Police Service, KeNHA and other agencies, many lives would be saved. Where there are gaps, Parliament is ready to introduce tougher policies,” said Kagombe.
Juja MP George Koimburi added that corruption within the transport sector remains a silent killer.
“Every player must act responsibly, including ending graft on our roads,” Koimburi said.
The burial was especially emotional for the family’s only surviving child, 12-year-old Claire Wairimu, who escaped the crash with minor injuries.
Fighting back tears, she paid tribute to her parents and brothers.
“I am in so much pain,” Wairimu said in a brief but moving tribute. “But I will always cherish the love and care my parents and my brothers gave me,” she told the packed gathering.