- KU public health students perished in Maungu, Voi, and Taita Taveta County after their school bus heading to Mombasa collided with a trailer that was on its way to Nairobi. 46 students sustained injuries.
- The other five died in an accident along Olonguruone-Silibwet Road in Bomet County. 18 others were injured in the accident and were rushed to Tenwek Mission Hospital.
Image: FILE
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has joined the nation in mourning the deaths of 11 Kenyatta University students and five others who perished in an accident on Monday.
KU public health students perished in Maungu, Voi, and Taita Taveta County after their school bus heading to Mombasa collided with a trailer that was on its way to Nairobi. 46 students sustained injuries.
The other five died in an accident along Olonguruone-Silibwet Road in Bomet County. 18 others were injured in the accident and were rushed to Tenwek Mission Hospital.
In her condolence message, Passaris raised concerns over the issue of road safety in the country.
“I stand in solidarity with the nation in offering condolences to the families of the 11 Kenyatta University students and the 5 individuals in Bomet who tragically lost their lives in accidents yesterday,” she said.
Passaris urged caution, saying there is a need for road users to be sensitised to tame the rising accidents.
“Reducing human errors in road accidents requires that we invest in education, enforcement and technology. From driver training and promotion of road use awareness to implementing strict penalties.”
Pastor Dorcas Rigathi also passed her condolence message to the affected victims' families.
“My deepest condolences go out to the Kenyatta University fraternity and the families of the students who died following the tragic road accident in the Maungu area while on their way to Mombasa,” she said.
“We also condole with the families of those who died in the Bomet accident. May God give you strength. My thoughts and prayers are with you.”
PSC commissioner Johnson Muthama on her part said:
“My heartfelt condolence to the families, relatives and friends of the Kenyatta University students who have perished in a grisly accident at Maungu, Voi, Taita Taveta County,” he said on X account.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time and those injured, I wish you a speedy recovery.”
Since January to February 2024, road accidents across the country have claimed 649 lives, the National Transport and Safety Authority said.
The statistics are an increase compared to the 623 recorded during the same period in 2023.
Pedestrians lead in fatalities at 252, compared with 190 recorded last year.
Motorcyclists recorded 152 deaths marking a slight decrease compared to 177 in 2023.
In 2024, at least 125 passengers have lost their lives in road crashes compared to 114 in 2023.
Some 43 drivers have lost their lives in road accidents. This is a decrease compared to 59 in the same period last year.
Pillion passengers recorded 61 deaths compared to 71 witnessed last year.
This year, only 10 pedal cyclists have died from an accident within the period under review compared to 12 recorded in 2023.