- The Matatu crushed near the Katangi area along the Machakos-Kitui road.
- Kiarie criticised the police for allowing matatu to continue their journey from Kitui-Machakos while overloaded.
Image: INSECURITYKE/X
The matatu that killed nine people in a road accident near Katangi was overloaded, David Kiarie, chairperson of the Road Safety Association of Kenya has alleged.
The matatu was crushed near the Katangi area along the Machakos-Kitui road.
The road safety advocate said the vehicle was overloaded with 30 bags of charcoal.
He also said the vehicle's speed governor had been tampered with leading to the accident.
"The speed governor had been removed since February 2, something that the regulator should have been aware of," he said.
Images shared online showed the mangled wreckage of the vehicle lying in a ditch with items strewn around the scene.
Yatta subcounty police commander Jane Makau had on Monday said eight people died on the spot following the accident that occurred a few kilometres from River Athi bridge.
"Eight died on the spot in the incident that happened a few minutes past 5 pm today. Traffic officers from Masii police station in Mwala subcounty responded to the incident and conducted necessary actions," Makau told the Star by phone.
Kiarie criticised the police for allowing the matatu to continue the journey from Kitui-Machakos while it was reportedly overloaded.
"We would not have lost the nine lives if the relevant authorities played their part,” he added.
He called on the government to declare road carnage a national disaster saying the number of accidents is on the rise.
Meanwhile, 35 patients are receiving treatment at the Machakos Level Five Hospital after sustaining injuries in the accident.
According to Machakos County Executive Committee Member for Health Dr Daniel Yumbya, the injured include three children, 26 male and six female patients.
Yumbya said one patient had been referred to the Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised spinal injury treatment while another one sought treatment at a private hospital.
He lauded the medical personnel for their swift response during the emergency and for working round the clock to save those injured.
Other officials present during the tour of the hospital were Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, Kitui Health executive Ruth Koki among other officials from the county.
The driver of the 42-seater matatu lost control of the vehicle and rolled several times before landing in a ditch.