Police dispute overload claim as 18 killed

At least 18 people were killed when a bus they were travelling in veered off the road and plunged into a valley in West Pokot county.

The Wednesday night accident happened at Kamatira, a notorious black spot on the Kitale-Lodwar road. Read (Three killed, 55 injured in bus crash)

Survivors of the horror crash, most of whom were traders who had travelled to Kitale for provisions, said the driver lost control of the vehicle after brakes failed.

The bus rolled downhill for nearly 150 metres before it finally rested on its roof, just short of a river at the base of the ravine.

Most of those who died were thrown out as the vehicle rolled, cutting through trees and bushes.

Five of the dead were children travelling with their parents.

Fifteen bodies were taken to Kapenguria Hospital mortuary in the morning.

Three others were trapped in the bus wreckage for hours. A rescue team comprising police officers, Kenya Red Cross Society and volunteers tried to retrieve them in vain.

The bodies were finally retrieved around 4pm when a crane lifted the bus.

At least 65 survivors were taken to Kapenguria District Hospital where 21 were treated and discharged.

Overloading and speed

“We referred two with head injuries to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, two to Kitale District Hospital, while we have currently admitted 40 patients,” Kapenguria District Hospital acting medical superintendent Festus Omunyin said.

Police said the driver of the bus was among those admitted to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in critical condition.

Some survivors alleged the accident was caused by overloading and speeding.

However, police dismissed the claims. Mr Wambua dismissed allegations that the bus was overloaded.

“We cannot jump to a conclusion that the bus was overloaded since those being alleged to be extra passengers were 10 children travelling with their parents,” he said.

Mr David Eragae, 50, said the 61-seater bus was carrying more than 80 passengers.

“The bus was overloaded right from Kitale as the conductor kept on picking passengers along the way with some standing,” said Mr Eragae, who sustained head injuries.

Another survivor, Mr Oscar Smith, 38, a Ugandan said: “Passengers had urged the driver to reduce the speed but he took no heed.”

After the brakes failed, the driver is said to have gone past four bends in the road before losing control and plunging into the valley.

Survivors and police said the driver tried in vain to drive the bus uphill instead of down the valley.

Kapenguria police boss David Wambua said: “Marks on the roadside indicate that the driver tried to crash into hills but he failed owing to a brake failure”.

Mr Kennedy Mulama, the Rift Valley Kenya Red Cross disaster management officer, said rescue operations were frustrated by the rough, steep and slippery terrain of the accident site.

Angry residents accused the roads ministry of neglect in maintenance of the road which they believe is a major cause of accidents.

Kapenguria trader Wilson Tonapa said many lives had been lost on the Kamatira stretch of the road.

In 1998, 20 trainee soldiers were killed after their truck crashed as they headed to Turkana for military exercises.

In 2008, 11 fishmongers lost their lives at the same spot as they travelled from Lodwar to Kitale.

And in September last year, 17 people were killed after their bus crashed near Kakuma town as it headed to Lodwar from Lokichogio.

The accident occurred after the vehicle hit a pot-hole on the road mainly used by trucks transporting goods to Turkana county and parts of South Sudan.

Traders operating between Kitale and Lodwar have criticised the government over delays in re-carpeting the road which was built in 1979.

Mr Derick Ejore, of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Turkana chapter, said transporting goods on the road had become very expensive due to wear and tear of vehicles.

Some leaders also want the government to redesign the road and expand it as one way of reducing accidents.

Traffic on the highway has increased since South Sudan became independent because it is one of its key supply routes.