Five people perished in a nasty road accident on Wednesday night after a 14-seater matatu in which they were travelling rolled several times along the Machakos-Wote road near Muumaandu shopping centre, Kalama Sub-county.
Thirteen others were rushed to Machakos Level 5 Hospital with injuries, some in critical condition, where they are undergoing treatment.
Among the dead was the conductor of the vehicle, two other men and two ladies whose bodies have all been taken to the hospitals mortuary.
Doctors at the hospital said two of the victims were in critical condition while others were being stabilised.
Three of the deceased lost their lives on the spot while two died as they were being rushed to the hospital by Machakos County ambulances which responded to the incident immediately.
Confirming the accident, Machakos County Director of Emergency and Rescue Services Dr. David Mwongela said preliminary investigations indicated that the Matatu which was plying from Nairobi to Wote town rolled several times following a rear tyre burst.
He noted that the matatu was carrying more passengers than it is authorised to carry.
And at the hospital, some of the survivors revealed that the driver of the matatu was speeding.
Speaking to the media, they said they had raised objection at the driver’s careless manner of driving but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
By Justus Keesi
