Christmas season, the most dreaded time on our Kenyan roads is here and Kenyans are getting ready to travel upcountry or to other holiday destinations for the festivities. Over the years, during this season, many people lose their lives while others are injured in road accidents and families are left mourning instead of enjoying their Christmas together.
This morning, five people died and 16 others were injured after a matatu collided with a trailer at Kapiti area on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway. The 14-seater matatu was ferrying Akorino church faithful for a tour to Mombasa when the vehicle collided head-on with the Nairobi-bound truck.
Machakos Deputy Director for Emergency Services Festus Kitongu says it was not immediately clear what caused the collision. The injured were rushed to Machakos Level Five Hospital.
In April this year, a total of 9 people lost their lives in two separate accidents along the busy Mombasa Nairobi highway. Those who perished were neighbours from Githurai 44 who had travelled to Oloitoktok for a dowry paying ceremony. The driver of the vehicle is said to have rammed into a stationary truck, while trying to overtake another vehicle at Kwa Muambi, in Kapiti plains, Machakos county.
The accident comes a few days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i instructed the Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet to intensify surveillance on the roads to improve safety during the festive season.
Dr Matiang’i told Mr Boinnet to do whatever it takes to ensure that there are no casualties related to road crashes.
“If detaining a bus at a police station for the whole night is what will ensure that travellers get to their destinations safe, then do so. Do whatever it takes to ensure we have no loss of lives on our roads this festive season,” Dr Matiang’i said.
Do you the police have slowed down on the road safety crackdown?