MOMBASA, Nov 2 (NNN-KBC) – Nine people died on the spot, in a road accident in the coastal Kilifi County yesterday.
Police said, the accident, which happened at around 3.00 p.m., involved a passenger minibus, locally known as matatu, and a truck.
Stephen Matu Rabai, divisional police commander said, the deceased include five men and four women.
“The injured are being treated at the Mariakani Sub County hospital,” he said, noting that, two children were among the seven injured. Two are in critical condition.
He said, the truck collided head on with the oncoming minibus, killing the nine on the spot. All the fatalities are passengers of the minibus which was coming from Mombasa, Kenya’s second largest city.
“The accident was caused by overspeeding and careless driving,” Matu said.
The authorities expressed concern over the increase in accidents, coming soon after President Uhuru Kenyatta relaxed COVID-19 containment measures, including curfew and closure of bars.
The government last month extended curfew from 9.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m., with bars now allowed to operate up to 10.00 p.m.
The road safety enforcers blamed increased road fatalities on over speeding and drunk driving.
An estimated 3,000 Kenyans die in road accidents annually, despite concerted efforts by the state and the private sector to promote safety on the highways, according to the National Transport and Safety Authority.– NNN-KBC
