Nine killed, scores injured in accidents

By JOHN MAJAU

Kisumu,Meru and Kericho,Kenya:Lucky survivors link mishaps to speeding and overtaking

Four people among them three members of a family died when a matatu heading to Kisumu from Bondo tried to overtake a motorbike but hit an on-coming car at Ndori Market.

Six others were admitted at the Nyanza Provincial Hospital in Kisumu and three others at Kombewa Sub-District Hospital. Siaya OCPD Stephen Cheteka said the bodies have been taken to Provincial Hospital mortuary while the 11 occupants of the matatu were rushed for treatment at Bondo District Hospital.

In another incident, Moses Gatobu, 60, father to Buuri MP Boniface Kinoti Gatobu (Independent) died on his way to Kirua Mission Hospital, after the vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a road accident at Ntugi market, on the Meru-Nanyuki road.

Buuri deputy OCPD Joel Chebii said the deceased, was travelling from Kirua market to Timau when his car was involved in a head-on collision.

“The vehicle which was coming from Nanyuki direction was attempting to overtake another car when it was involved in a head on collision with the deceased’s car,” said the deputy OCPD. Chebii said three other passengers sustained minor injuries.

Elsewhere, a hit-and-run driver knocked down an 86-year-old pedestrian along the Meru-Mikinduri road before landing in a ditch.

OCPD Mr Tom Odero said the woman was hit by the vehicle as she attempted to cross the road and died on the spot.

The wreck of the vehicle was towed to the Meru police station. “We are investigating what happened and the driver suspected to have caused the accident will be charged in court once arrested,” Mr Odero said.

Later in the day, a hawker died after he fell from a moving bus in Meru town. The deceased had boarded the bus to sell maize to passengers.

Witnesses said the man jumped off the bus and fell, dying on the spot.

head-on collision

Meanwhile, two matatu drivers were killed after their vehicles were involved in a head-on collision at Kapkatungor area along the Kericho-Nakuru highway on Friday night

Thirty-nine passengers among them six children were injured in the accident which police attributed to speeding and defiance of traffic rules and regulations. Kericho OCPD Clement Gatogo and Traffic Base commander Maurice Okul confirmed the accident. Gatogo said one of the matatu drivers died on the spot while the other was pronounced dead on arrival at Kericho District Hospital.

Most of the injured passengers were rushed to Kericho District Hospital with some being referred to Tenwek Mission Hospital in Bomet County and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for specialised treatment.

 

By JOHN MAJAU, LAWRENCE ALURU and BY NIKKO TANUI