19 die in Molo accident

By Vincent Mabatuk

The ill-fated matatu that plunged into a Molo quarry killing 19 people [Photos: Boniface Thuku/Standard]

It’s another sad day two into the New Year as an accident involving a 14-seater matatu claimed 19 lives in Molo, Nakuru County.

The accident, that happened just a kilometre from Molo town, comes a day after 11 people died in yet another accident at Salgaa on Nakuru-Eldoret highway, in the same county.

Among those who died in the Wednesday afternoon incident were 10 men, six children and three women.

Seventeen of the victims died on the spot while the other two succumbed to injuries at the Molo District Hospital where they were rushed for treatment.

All the bodies were moved to the hospital mortuary but those with critical injuries were transferred to Rift Valley Provincial Hospital in Nakuru.

At the scene of the accident, blood-soaked passengers’ belongings was a testimony of another tragic road carnage only two days to the New Year. The blood-stained luggage including personal effects, fruits, potatoes, bags and mobile phones were strewn all over.

The matatu was ferrying about 30 passengers from Olenguruone to Molo town at the time of accident.

The driver of the ill-fated vehicle was among those who died on the spot while the conductor escaped with an injured head and broken arm and was undergoing treatment at Molo District Hospital by last night.

Worst in recent past

The 23-year-old Robert Tanui said the vehicle had 18 adults and several children at the time of the accident.

George Morara, a witness, said he saw the vehicle roll towards a quarry about 30 metres from the main road before it nose-dived 10 metres down the rocky area.

“It was at around 1.30pm when I saw the vehicle speed off the cliff,” said the witness.

At TM quarry, where the worst accident ever to be witnessed  in the area in the recent, the tens of residents who turned up to rescue the passengers, condemned law enforcers for doing less to stop road carnage.

Area assistant chief Timothy Ominde escaped the accident with whisker after the ill-fated matatu conductor refused to pick him.

Crashed by wreckage

With tears, Mr Ominde, who later chose to ride on a motorbike, says, “The vehicle which was ahead of us left the road and headed towards the rocky quarry.”

He said the driver of the vehicle might have encountered difficulties in navigating the sharp corner causing the deadly accident.

Deep down the trap of death, survivors were squeezed between construction stones and the wreckage.

Rift Valley Provincial Police Officer  John M’mbijjiwe said the vehicle was overloaded and was headed to Molo from Olenguruone.

He said the vehicle veered off the road due to speeding and landed into a quarry near Mona river.

Although reports both from the witness and the hospital indicate that 32 people were involved in the accident but the PPO said it was only 28 passengers on board while four others were at the quarry.

Two survivors were referred to the Rift Valley Provincial Hospital in a critical condition.

Shocked relatives

At the Molo hospital, it was a beehive of activity as the staff attended to survivors while relatives thronged the mortuary to view and identify bodies of their loved ones.

Relatives talked in low tones while others wiped away tears of agony as they awaited official communication from the police and the hospital.

The wreckage was towed to the  Molo Police Station as police launched investigation.

Toll rises to 30

M’mbijjiwe said action will be taken against police officers found sleeping on their job. He said should it emerge that the vehicle passed police officers on the way, he will not hesitate to take action against those involved.

“It is not acceptable to see innocent Kenyans losing their lives when the new traffic law is already in place,” he said.

He cautioned drivers against violating traffic rules saying approximately 30 people have died during the festive season in Nakuru alone.