7 dead as dowry ceremony bound matatu plunges into gorge

By  Pius Maundu

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

A cloud of sorrow hovered over the Nthongoni region in Makueni County on Saturday after six neighbours perished in a grisly road accident that claimed seven lives.

They were travelling to a dowry payment ceremony in Inyoni Village when the accident occurred on Friday night.

What was supposed to be a night of merrymaking as Eunice Mueni marked an important rite in her marriage with relatives and friends turned into grief.

The sleepy Nthongoni region was struggling to come to terms with the bad news.

“We are devastated,” said Joseph Kyonda, a community leader who lost six neighbours in the accident. “Once the dust settles, we shall appeal for financial support from well-wishers to give our neighbours dignified burials.”

The Nation has established that the 46-seater minibus, christened Nidhamu, was ferrying 71 people when the accident occurred.

“Matiliku sub-County Referral Hospital received 28 casualties while Makueni County Referral Hospital received 36 casualties. Unfortunately, we have lost seven people on the spot,” Makueni Health Chief Officer Harvey Mulei said.

Survivors said the vehicle veered off the road in hilly terrain at around 9:30pm on Friday before plunging into a gorge.

“Shortly before the matatu veered off the road, its headlights went off,” said Rose Mueni, who survived the accident.

Among those who perished in the accident was Stephen Kioko, an agronomist who had boarded the matatu shortly before the accident occurred. Aaron Ndisya, who was a friend, eulogised Kioko as a hardworking and trustworthy agronomist.

“Kioko was chilling at Katulye Township when the ill-fated matatu arrived. He jumped in to show the visitors the direction to the destination. He was among my highly trusted crew members in establishing orchards across the country,” he said.

The accident tested the Makueni County health system in the wake of an ongoing strike by a section of medics.

It took a combined effort by volunteers, including dozens of boda boda operators, and government officials to ease the situation at the scene of the accident.

In addition to dispatching three ambulances to rescue survivors of the accident, the county government mobilised medics to attend to casualties.

Kelvin Maweu, an orthopaedic surgeon at the Makueni County Referral Hospital, said most of the casualties at the facility had suffered soft-tissue injuries and fractures.

“We have stabilised all the casualties at the Matiliku Sub-County Referral Hospital and the Makueni County Referral Hospital. We have discharged all the casualties save for four who have fractures, which we have embarked on fixing,” Dr Mulei said.

At the two hospitals, survivors recalled the last minutes before the accident. At Katulye, the last shopping centre before the destination, a debate reportedly ensued on whether the passengers should disembark to allow the bus to descend a hilly section with ease.

“A team of drunk youth in the bus overpowered the driver, who seemed unsure of the road ahead. They urged him on,” recalled Beatrice Kimondiu.

Joseph Mumo, the driver of the minibus, sustained a fractured right hand. Surrounded by family members and colleagues at the Makueni County Referral Hospital, he complained of chest pains. He blamed a failure of the braking system for the Friday night accident.

“When I tried engaging the hand brake, I heard the vehicle skidding before it veered off the road and landed in a ditch. It is a miracle that we are alive,” he said.

Witnesses said the bus burst into flames after it landed in the ditch. The fire left Dennis Kanyita nursing a burn wound on his left leg.

Mr Kanyita also sustained a broken right leg. 

“Things would have been worse if it were not for the first responders who put out the fire,” he said.

Makueni Woman Representative Rose Museo called on drivers to be extra vigilant when travelling in unfamiliar regions to avert accidents. She also discouraged travelling at night.

“We should avoid travelling at night,” she said.

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