At least 9 people died and 30 others were injured after a matatu they were travelling in was involved in a road accident near Katangi Market on the Kitui-Machakos road on Monday afternoon.
Confirming the accident, Machakos County Police Commander Patrick Lobolia said the matatu was travelling from Zombe market in Kitui East to Nairobi when the driver lost control after failing to negotiate a corner while descending towards Athi River, causing the 41-seater vehicle to roll several times.
“It seems from the appearance; that the driver was unable to control the Matatu on the sloppy stretch towards the river,” the police boss said.
Machakos Health Executive Daniel Yumbya said eight people died on the spot while the ninth victim passed away on arrival at Machakos County Referral Hospital.
Yumbya further noted that the deceased persons include a 9-year-old child and eight adults.
The injured persons were rushed to hospitals in the nearby Kitui and Machakos counties.
The accident comes two days after three pupils died and scores injured after being involved in a grisly road accident along Gitugi Murang’a road.
The pupils from Maadili Primary School in Kiambu were going back home after attending a scout function in Nyeri County on Saturday evening.
The driver of the bus is said to have failed to negotiate a sharp corner and veered off the road with the bus rolling several times.
One child died on the spot and two others succumbed to the injuries while being rushed to Murang’a district hospital.
According to the preliminary report from the police, the bus had 35 pupils on board, three teachers and two drivers totalling up to 38 passengers.
