Two people were confirmed dead, and four others were injured in a tragic incident in Kirinyaga County.
The two passengers lost their lives after jumping out of a 14-seater matatu that lost its brakes while ferrying passengers from Karatina to Embu.
The matatu reportedly experienced brake failure after passing Kagumo Town in Kirinyaga County.
Four passengers who sustained injuries were rushed to Kerugoya Hospital for treatment.
Driver Warned Passengers from Jumping
According to officials, the vehicle which operates under the 4NTE Sacco had passengers from Karatina, Kerugoya, and Embu.
“The vehicle was carrying passengers from Karatina, some from Kerugoya, and others heading to Embu. However, on the way, it lost its brakes,” recounted Samuel Kamau, an employee of 4NTE SACCO.
“When it lost the brakes, that’s when the passengers opened the slide and began jumping one after another. They were jumping one at a time.”
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Kamau further revealed that the driver pleaded with passengers not to jump or open the windows as he tried to control the situation.
Despite his warnings, the passengers jumped out of the vehicle one by one.
“The driver pleaded with them, saying, ‘Don’t open the door; I’ll try to control the vehicle until it stops, and everyone will get to their destination,” he recounted.
“However, some passengers said, ‘Rather than dying ahead, I’d rather die here.’ So, they began jumping out one by one, and the driver couldn’t stop them, and the vehicle was on a higher speed.”
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Witnesses Recount
Eyewitnesses reported that the matatu sped through the busy Kerugoya area with its doors open, raising alarm among road users.
Another eyewitness, James Mugo shared the grim scene: “I came across one, a woman, who had fallen and was later taken by an ambulance. Another one I found had fallen and died.”
The driver managed to control the vehicle for approximately 10 kilometres before it veered off the road and came to a stop on Gitwe farm near Kirinyaga University.
The Kirinyaga County Disaster Management Officer urged drivers to ensure their vehicles are inspected regularly to prevent such incidents.
“My call to all drivers is to always take their vehicles for inspection because this tragedy was caused by brake failure. Drivers should also avoid over-speeding. If the vehicle was moving at the recommended speed of 80 km/h, no one would have died,” the officer said.
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