Prayers held over rising accidents

By Anthony Gitonga

Nakuru County

Three people including a motorcycle operator died in separate road accidents in Naivasha town, as prayers were held at various accident black spots.

Two passengers in a matatu destined for Naivasha town from Kongoni died after the driver lost control of the vehicle that rolled several times.

Area police commander Ernest Oponyo said six passengers sustained serious injuries during the accident that occurred near Sanctuary Farm.

In the second accident, a motorcycle operator died when he was hit by a motorist within the town.

Meanwhile, church leaders joined traffic police officers in Naivasha in special prayers over rising road accidents on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.

During the prayers it emerged that 78 people had died in motorcycle accidents within the town streets in the past 11 months.

Drive with care

The church leaders held a procession through the town’s streets and the highway where they said prayers for victims of road accidents.

Addressing worshippers area traffic police boss Chief Inspector Roy Njeru decried the rate of motorcycle accidents in the town.

He said between January and this month, 78 people had died in 175 accidents in the town alone.

"In the accidents, 50 people were permanently maimed and some are still admitted in various hospitals," he said.

He attributed the accidents to negligence, driving while under the influence of alcohol and speeding.

Njeru called on drivers, motorcycle operators and cyclists to exercise caution to avoid accidents. "My plea is to all drivers and motorcycle riders to drive with care so that we can avoid these deaths," he said.