Mr. Lucas Asang’aa the driver of the ill fated bus that killed 56 people in Londiani was apparently planning to quit his job because the bus had faulty brakes.
This is according to the driver’s son Johnson Chogo. According to the son, his father complained about using too much energy in engaging the brakes and was considering quitting.
“On the fateful morning as he left home for work, he told me the bus’ brakes were faulty. He was hesitant to continue with the job because the management was not keen on fixing the problem,” Mr Chogo said as quoted by The Nation.
He added: “That was the last we talked until we heard about the accident.”
The old man may have continued with the job, perhaps feeling he had no choice if he was to earn his daily bread. But it was deadly; no seat belts; no licence to operate at night and no fixed schedule.
According to details gathered at the Machakos Country bus, Mr. Asang’asa who was 72 years had driven to Nairobi from Kisumu on the ill fated day of the accident.
He didn’t rest as stipulated in the law, as he drove off from the city heading to Western Kenya on the same night going on to kill himself and 57 other passengers.
According to family members, the husband of 4 and father of 20, Lucas has more than 50 years experience driving on Kenyan roads.
The man used to drive long-haul goods transportation lorries, often staying away from home, traversing districts from Mombasa to Busia and beyond.
Later, family members say, he changed to public passenger vehicles driving matatus before joining the long-range buses.
Not a man to sit down and face poverty in the eye, he left home early, picking up jobs as a hired driver before getting routine employment. Homeboyz was the second bus company he worked for before he met his death.
On Wednesday morning, he was behind the wheels when his Homeboyz bus, operated by Western Cross Express Sacco, plunged passengers in a ravine, killing 55 of them. By last evening, the toll had risen to 58.
He and his conductor identified as Victor Mudvikisa Asava, 29,have been blamed for arrogance to passengers and careless driving. They both died in the horrendous crash together with scores of women, mena and childre who had moments before their death pleaded with him to be more careful.