Casualties Reported as Matatu Full of Passengers Rolls in Nairobi

Several casualties have been reported following a road accident involving a matatu full of passengers in Nairobi along Jogoo Road.

The accident which happened on March 11, 2024, morning involved a Forward Travelers Sacco bus that was heading towards Nairobi CBD from Kayole.

Preliminary reports indicate that the bus rolled down while taking a U-turn at the Buru Buru Exit and that it was on the wrong side of the road.

Witnesses at the scene also said that some passengers had suffered injuries.

Photos seen by The Kenya Times showed the overturned bus along the Jogoo Road while others showed members of the public tried to rescue the passengers still inside.

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Other photos showed injured passengers near the scene of the accident, an indication of the impact of the accident.

Jogoo Road Accident

By the time of publishing this article, no official confirmation of any fatalities had been made and police are yet to issue a statement.

Following the incident, motorists plying the Jogoo Road route reported that the accident had resulted to a traffic snarl up.

Some motorists noted that the jam along the route affected sections such as Donholm and Makadara, further asking other motorists to avoid the route if possible.

Meanwhile, one person lost his life on Saturday morning in Kirinyaga County following a road accident at Mugaya area along the Kagumo-Mutito Road.

The accident which involved a lorry and a saloon car happened after the lorry overturned and fell onto the saloon car instantly claiming the life of its occupant.

According to eyewitnesses the beer-ferrying lorry overturned when its driver attempted to maneuver past potholes on the road, resulting in it falling onto the car.

The two incidents are among a number of traffic accidents that have been reported recently which resulted to a number of casualties and even fatalities.

Three people were on May 4 confirmed dead following a grisly road accident along the Nakuru – Eldoret highway.

The accident which happened at the Sobea area near Nakuru Teachers College involved a Passenger Service Vehicle (PSV) 14- seater matatu and a truck.

According to a police report, the accident happened after the PSV matatu collided head on with the trailer.

Also Read: Fatalities Reported in Accident Involving Police Vehicle

Rongai Sub-County Police Commander Wilberforce Sicharani confirmed that two people died on the spot while one other person succumbed while receiving treatment at the Nakuru Referral Hospital. On the other hand, at least 13 other people are still nursing injuries at the Nakuru Referral hospital.

NTSA Data

Data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) indicated that a total number of 7,198 Kenyans had been involved in roads accidents, between January and April 2024.

NTSA revealed that among the Kenyans involved in accidents during the period, 1,189 died from road while 3,316 were seriously injured following the accidents.

Due to the surge in the incidents of road crashes, NTSA embarked on a comprehensive operation aimed at raising awareness on road safety, particularly.

The initiative seeks to educate both the public and stakeholders within the transport industry on the importance of adherence to safety regulations to mitigate the alarming rate of accidents on Kenyan roads.

Ruto on curbing accidents

President William Ruto while urging all stakeholders in the transport sector to fully participate in ensuring road safety ordered the National Police Service (NPS) and NTSA to collaborate closely to enhance road safety measures in the country.

The president was speaking during the launch of the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028 at KICC in Nairobi, where he also directed the Ministry of Transport to ensure that all road accident hotspots, road junctions, and PSVs are fitted with cameras within 90 days.

“For too long, there has been a disconnect and competition between traffic police and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in enforcing traffic rules, which has hindered the achievement of desired results,” the Head of State said.

At the same time, Ruto noted that negligence on the roads must stop, and road safety measures must be strengthened, including the use of modern technology to improve the monitoring of traffic violations and the introduction of instant fines.

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