A person living with disability (PWD) from Madogo in Tana River County has appealed to the government, well-wishers and relevant agencies to help him secure the services of a licensed assessor to evaluate losses he suffered after a speeding lorry rammed into his home and destroyed his vehicle.

Speaking to journalists at his home on Wednesday, Elijah Maina Macharia, whose homestead is located adjacent to the busy Garissa–Mwingi–Nairobi highway in Madogo, said he lacks the financial means to hire professional assessors and legal representation to pursue compensation.

According to Macharia, the incident occurred on May 29 when he received a distressing phone call informing him that a lorry had veered off the road and crashed into his property.

“I was away when I received a call from a neighbour informing me that a lorry had rammed into my house and caused extensive destruction. The vehicle completely crushed my car, which was parked outside, and badly damaged part of my house,” he said.

“I immediately hired a boda boda and rushed home. When I arrived, I was shocked by the extent of the destruction. Part of my bedroom had been damaged, and my vehicle was completely wrecked. The first thing I did was check on my family, and thankfully, everyone was safe. However, the destruction left behind was evident and heartbreaking,” he said.

Macharia said traffic police officers visited the scene, documented the incident and assessed the visible damage, but expressed concern that little progress has been made since then.

“What saddens me most is that there appears to be no clear support system for victims when such incidents occur. As a person living with disability, I expected the government to come to my aid by helping me access professional assessors who can establish the value of my losses and determine the compensation I deserve,” he said.

“I am not financially stable enough to hire assessors on my own. Because of my disability and economic situation, I also expected some form of legal support from the government to help me navigate this process. Unfortunately, nothing has happened so far.”

Macharia appealed to government agencies to intervene and facilitate a formal assessment process to enable him to pursue compensation from the vehicle’s insurer.

“My appeal is simple. Let the government help me get certified assessors so that an official valuation can be done. Once that is completed, I can formally issue a demand for compensation to the owners of the lorry, which I have confirmed was properly insured. I only want justice and fair compensation for the losses I have suffered,” he said.

Call for road safety

He further called on the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to consider installing speed-calming measures along the highway near residential areas and educational institutions.

“This section of the road is on a slope, and vehicles often descend at very high speeds. It poses a serious danger not only to residents living along the road but also to students at the nearby Madogo Secondary School. We need speed bumps or other measures before a more serious tragedy occurs,” he said

Macharia said the accident has left his family traumatized and living in fear.

“My children are still traumatized by what happened. They keep asking us to relocate because they no longer feel safe living here. As a person living with disability, the vehicle that was destroyed was extremely important in helping me move around and carry out my daily activities. Right now, I am completely grounded and forced to spend money I do not have on transport and other necessities.”

His wife, Emily Muhaki Karuiki, recalled the terrifying moments leading up to the crash.

“I was inside the bedroom resting with my child and trying to put her to sleep when I suddenly heard a loud bang from outside,” she said.

“When I looked through the window, I saw a lorry crashing into our vehicle that was parked outside. I immediately rushed out to see what had happened and that’s when I realized the magnitude of the accident.”

While expressing gratitude that no lives were lost, she urged those responsible for the accident to expedite the compensation process.

“We thank God because there were no casualties. Our family survived, and for that we are grateful. However, we appeal to those involved in this accident to hasten the compensation process because our family continues to suffer the consequences,” she said.

She noted that the damaged house poses a serious safety risk, especially during the current cold season.

“You can clearly see that part of our house was extensively damaged. Some doors were destroyed, and there are visible cracks on the walls caused by the impact of the lorry. The structural integrity of the house has been weakened, and we fear it could collapse if urgent repairs are not undertaken,” she said.

“We are currently in a cold season, and we have young children living in these conditions. We are worried about their health because exposure to cold weather increases the risk of illnesses such as pneumonia. We do not have the financial capacity to repair the house on our own.

“That is why we are appealing to those responsible and all relevant authorities to move with speed and ensure compensation is processed without further delay.”