At least 10 people lost their lives when a bus veered off the road and rolled several times in southern Kenya. The incident occurred on a hilly stretch of road, a known accident blackspot, as the passengers were returning from a funeral in the Mwatate area of Taita Taveta County to the coastal city of Mombasa on Saturday evening. According to Mwatate Police Chief Morris Okul, there were 34 people on board, excluding children, although the exact total number of casualties has not been confirmed. Okul stated that the driver of the bus survived and is currently in a critical condition in hospital.
Okul attributed the cause of the accident to the failure of the bus’s brakes, which is a common issue experienced by many commuters in Kenya. However, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome suggests that the driver may have been coasting in neutral with the bus’s engine off in an attempt to conserve fuel, a common practice among long-distance drivers. Koome emphasized that there is a tendency for drivers to freewheel to save on fuel, which can lead to accidents, especially on hilly terrain.
Kenya Bus Crash Kills at Least 10 in Southern Region 2023
The mourners had traveled over 150 kilometers (90 miles) to attend the funeral and were returning late in the evening when the accident occurred. An investigation into the incident is underway, and the police are working to establish the exact cause of the accident and determine what measures can be taken to prevent future occurrences. The bus crash is the latest in a series of accidents to hit the country, highlighting the need for improved road safety standards and stricter enforcement of traffic laws.
