Kirinyaga Woman Representative Purity Ngirici has explained the circumstances surrounding her nephew’s death during a street racing event along the Arusha-Namanga highway.
Ngirici clarified that at the time of the accident her nephew, Robin Njiru, was not racing but had finished participating in the race when his car was accidentally hit by another vehicle.
"He [Njiru] parked his vehicle on the roadside just after completing the race. Another vehicle which was speeding a few meters behind my nephew’s car hit Njiru’s car, causing it to roll several times. The resultant impact killed him on the spot, and left his female friend, who was in the co-driver’s seat, injured,” the legislator said when speaking to edaily.
Earlier reports had indicated that Njiru’s Mitsubishi colt collided with another vehicle, a green Toyota Aristo bearing Tanzanian number plates.
The colt had four occupants with only one surviving – an unidentified female passenger who was rushed to Nairobi Hospital.
Five other people were killed, including pedestrian spectators who were on the side of the highway watching the elite car racers.
The accident which happened near Longido township in Tanzania drew the reaction of many Kenyans who called for regulations of street racing events.