By Ali Abdi

Nine people perished and 40 others injured in a road accident along the Isiolo-Wajir road in North Eastern Kenya.

The accident, on Wednesday night, at around 8 pm involved a truck ferrying goods and passengers between Isiolo town and Merti trading centre.

The incident took place about 45 km from Isiolo town near Shab Hills in Igembe North District.
The dead included four men, four women and a girl of around five years. Of the
40 injured, thirteen are in critical condition.

Isiolo OCPD Augustine Nthumbi said the truck's gear malfunctioned on a steep
section and rolled back, off loading passengers and cargo that included hardware
material and foodstuff.

''Eight of those killed died on the spot while the other died at Isiolo District
Hospital. The rest of the passengers were injured, some critically,'' said Mr
Nthumbi.

He said traffic police officers from Meru North are investigating the cause of the accident with their counterparts from Isiolo but said initial cause points
to mechanical problem and overloading.

Among those killed was an Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) policeman who succumbed to the fatal injuries while being taken to hospital.
Two other ASTU policemen and an AP officer are admitted at the hospital. Another AP who went missing the whole of Wednesday night was traced in the bush by Kenya
Red Cross officials.

The Kenya Red Cross Society upper Eastern coordinator Daniel Damocha said hardware items the truck was ferrying caused most of the injuries.

An injured AP Samuel Wambugu who works in Merti division told reporters at the
hospital that the vehicle was unable to clear a steep section of the road after
developing mechanical problem causing it to roll downhill and overturn.

“The passengers were on top of the truck above the heavy cargo. As it rolled back, the passengers were spilled out and covered by the hardware materials like cement, iron sheets and steel bars. That is why everyone was injured,'' said the officer.

At the ill-equipped hospital, those critically injured with broken backbones and ribs were still awaiting to be transferred to Meru general hospital for
specialized treatment.


Livestock Development minister Mohammed Kuti and Isiolo DC James Mwaura were among those who visited the injured at the hospital. The duo cautioned passengers against boarding overloaded trucks.