Four die in Kisumu bus accident

By Nicholas Anyuor

Four people including a student were killed and more than 10 others left in critical condition in an accident along Kisumu-Nairobi Highway.

The area District Commissioner Mabea Mogaka, who rushed to the scene at Alendu shopping centre, said the driver of the bus christened Vanga from Mombassa to Kisumu was trying to avoid a stationary matatu when the accident occurred.

The bus then rammed-head-on another Matatu from Kisumu that was picking and dropping passengers by the roadside. Some of the passengers included students who were travelling to nearby schools.

“The bus then hit the Matatu and they all rolled, causing injuries and deaths. The road is narrow and we are now thinking of erecting bumps and parking bays around this place to help reduce accidents around here,” he said.

Following the accident, two people died on the spot and two others, including a student, died on their way to Nyanza Hospital Mortuary.

Benson Okello, a driver of another Matatu, who arrived at the scene immediately, said he ferried seven victims to the Nyanza Provincial hospital, but two succumbed to injuries on the way.

“They died on the way, but the remaining five arrived well and are being treated there. I had to help because many people who arrived at the scene were stranded on what to do,” he said.

James Juma, another witness, said some four victims were rushed to the nearby Rabuor Health Centre in a critical condition, but accused the driver of the bus of speeding and was not able to control the vehicle.

“The bus driver, after avoiding hitting the Matatu, could not control the vehicle because it was speeding and instead it rammed into the Matatu,” he said.

A team of Red Cross officials and police arrived at the scene and rushed more victims to health facilities in Kisumu.

Area Deputy OCPD Muthuri Mwongera said the two who died on the spot were crushed by the bus and were removed from the wreckages by Red Cross emergency team and the police.

“The two died on the spot and several others were seriously injured and rushed to different hospitals in Kisumu and around the place,” he said.

For the last two months, over ten lives have been lost on this road particularly along Ahero-Katito as it is narrow and many accidents occur as the vehicles involved try to avoid potholes.