Last week, during a 3-day working tour in Meru County, President William Ruto narrowly escaped a life-threatening incident, as revealed by Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi. The UDA Senator disclosed that Ruto’s car faced a near-rollover on the Embu-Meru Highway due to the poor condition of the road. The incident occurred when the President’s car suffered a tire burst mid-journey, prompting concerns about the safety of the country’s leader.

Senator Kathuri Murungi, expressing alarm over the situation, issued an ultimatum to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to urgently address the deplorable state of the road. He highlighted the need for the Director General of KeNHA to visit Meru, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu Counties to assess the ongoing projects and make necessary repairs. The senator questioned the safety of citizens if the President himself faced danger on the roads, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

While sympathizing with President Ruto for the harrowing experience, Senator Kathuri stressed the potential catastrophic consequences if the incident had occurred during a downhill drive with the speed of the Presidential motorcade. He also expressed regret over the overall poor state of roads in Meru County and accused KeNHA of negligence, suggesting possible embezzlement of funds through illegal tender awards, leading to sluggish progress in infrastructural development.