Police have warned matatu drivers using Eldoret-Webuye road to be more careful at this time that most people are travelling back to towns and cities after the festive season.
Lugari Sub-County Police Commander Bernard Ngungu is worried that as drivers of Public Service Vehicles (PSV) try to make more trips following increased number of travelers, they may be putting the lives of travelers at risk.
Ngungu agreed that matatu drivers are using the peak traveling season to make extra profits with little attention to the safety of the passengers. He asked the owners of all PSV vehicles to ensure they carry required capacity and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy.
Police boss was speaking after eight people died on the spot Sunday morning as four escaped with serious injuries after a Nissan Matatu they were traveling in rammed into a stationary truck at Musembe along the Webuye – Eldoret highway.
According to Nicholas Mwangi the driver of the truck, the speeding Nissan hit his lorry from behind in the 5am incident.
Residents who rushed to the scene managed to rescue four passengers who were rushed to Lumakanda county hospital in critical condition.
The residents appealed to the Kenya Highway Authority to erect more bumps at the area to check on speeding vehicles to reduce accidents.
“It is like the driver panicked on abruptly seeing a stationary truck and tried to swerve but the lorry ripped off the roof killing the eight,” said Ngungu.
The bodies of the victims were moved to the Webuye sub county hospital mortuary pending post-mortem examinations.
By Geoffrey Satia
