More top education officials visit KU accident survivors in hospital

Several officials from the Ministry of Education took time to visit Kenyatta University students who were hospitalised after their bus got involved in a grisly road accident on Monday.

Following the Monday accident, 11 KU students died. 

On Wednesday, Higher Education and Research Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala led a delegation of officials from the ministry to visit the students. 

Inyangala visited Avenue Hospital in Parklands to comfort the students who sustained various injuries in an accident that occurred at Maungu In Voi subcounty along the Nairobi—Mombasa Highway.

Inyangala visited each student in their respective wards, where she urged them to take courage. She also wished them a quick recovery.

The students were involved in a grisly road accident involving a Kenyatta University bus and a trailer. 

The students were headed for a trip to Mombasa when the unfortunate incident occurred.

Avenue Hospital Manager Dr. Said Mohammed said the hospital received 18 accident victims, noting that health personnel worked tirelessly to stabilise them.

“We are happy that 17 of the patients admitted here are in stable condition,” Dr Mohammed said moments after taking the Principal Secretary around all the wards where the students have been admitted.

He said only one accident victim was still in critical condition, adding, that the staff were doing all they can to stabilise the situation.

Of the 18 accident victims at the hospital, 12 are female and six are male students.

The Principal Secretary was accompanied by Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) CEO Charles Ringera. 

Commission for University Education (CUE) Chief Executive Officer Mike Kuria and Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service Chief Executive Agnes Wahome were also part of the delegation. 

Others were University Funding Board (UFB) Chief Executive Geoffrey Monari, and National Research Fund (NRF) Chief Executive Officer Dickson Andala.

KU on Tuesday suspended learning in honour of 11 students who lost their lives. 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics Waceke Wanjohi suspended learning for three days during which they will mourn the departed souls.

"Following this unprecedented tragedy, the University Management has decided to suspend all classes for three days beginning Wednesday, March 20, 2024, to enable us to mourn our beloved students,"  Wanjohi said.

KU Vice Chancellor Paul Wainaina on Tuesday morning also visited survivors of the gruesome accident.

He was in the company of school officials at the Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi.