Seven worshipers die on the newly tarmacked Kibwezi - Mutomo Road as car overturns

Upgrading of the dilapidated Kibwezi-Mutomo-Kitui-Kabati-Migwani road. [FILE PHOTO/Paul Mutua/Standard]

Seven people died on Sunday morning within Ikutha Township after a 14 seater car they were travelling in overturned and rolled along the newly tarmacked Kibwezi – Mutomo road.

Four of the passengers died on the spot at the Junction to Kasaala market while the three others died while undergoing treatment at Ikutha Level Four Hospital.

Two more passengers were transferred to Kitui County Referral Hospital in critical condition. The bodies were moved to Mutomo Hospital.

According to Ikutha Deputy County Commissioner Jacton Orieny, the passengers were travelling from Nairobi to attend a church service at Kasaala when the accident occurred.

They had used the Nairobi – Mombasa highway and took a diversion at Kibwezi Town heading to Ikutha.

Mr Orieny urged the motorists using the newly tarmacked road to exercise caution because the road is not marked.

“We have witnessed cases where drivers are speeding along the new road and that is dangerous. The road is not marked and has no bumps so we urge drivers to drive at reasonable speeds [SIC],” said Orieny.

He said that the security team in the area was sensitising the locals, drivers and Boda boda operators on the highway code to reduce accidents.

The new road whose tarmac works is still ongoing towards Kitui town has so far claimed the lives of several boda boda operators.

The class B road is being tarmacked by the Chinese Sino Hydro Company which has so far gone past Mutomo town towards Kitui.