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At least 15 people were killed and over 65 others seriously injured when a Kitale-Lodwar bound bus plunged into a valley near Kapenguria in Pokot County.
West Pokot OCPD David Wambua confirmed that 13 bodies had so far been retrieved and that more bodies were still trapped in the ill-fated bus.
Wambua said more bodies were trapped inside the bus belonging to Dayah Company which was heading to Lodwar from Kitale. He said a three year old child was among the dead.
“We have so far retrieved 13 bodies and two or more bodies are trapped inside the bus and rescue team is trying to dismantle the vehicle to remove them out,” said the OCPD.
The accident occurred at Kamatira barely 3km away from Kapenguria district headquarters. The area is a black spot.
The bus rammed into a ditch before rolling several times to the deep valley after the driver lost control during the Wednesday accident.
Wambua said preliminary investigations show that the brakes failed as the driver tried to negotiate a sharp corner forcing him to direct the vehicle to the ditch before it rolled.
"We suspect that the driver was trying to negotiate the corner when the brakes failed and directed the bus to the ditch before it turned and rolled to the valley,” said the OCDP at the scene.
After the accident, residents of Chepareria led by Teresa Lokichu armed with axes, hacksaws pangas and grinding machines tried to dismantle the bus wreckage to save lives before police arrived and joined in the rescue mission.
It took over eight hours for a rescue team to reach the bus and start rescuing victims and retrieve the bodies in a tedious exercise that took the better part of Wednesday night.
World Vision Kenya Chepareria office acted swiftly and delivered a generator to provide power to the rescue team led by wambua and West Pokot district Commissioner Alfred Mwandale.
Wambua commended the residents among them former Chepareria county council chairman Johnson Losirian for the swift action to participate in the rescue mission to save the lives of the passengers.
“This is a good gesture. Residents have struggled with the bad terrain to assist in the rescue. We thank them for the support,” said Wambua.
A survivor George Owino blamed the driver for the incident saying the accidents could have been avoid had he heeded to the advice from passengers.
The heavily bandaged Owino said the passengers complained of the high speed but the driver ignored shortly before the accident happened.
“There were pleas from passengers for the drivers to reduce the speed but he failed to listen. The accidents could have been avoided had he heed to our urges,” said Owino who sustained a deep cut on the head.
A nurse at the hospital Josephine Karani said 65 patients from the accident had been brought for treatment and 2 patients with multiple injures referred to Moi Referral hospital Eldoret.
“We have attended several patients with soft tissue injuries and other with fractures. We have referred 2 patients for specialize d treatment at Moi Referral hospital,” said Karani.
She said most of the victims were stable after stitched but ere investigation after undergoing an X-ray and at least 15 were treated and discharged.
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The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
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