Cabinet Issues Orders Hours After Naivasha Accident Killing 6 Students

During the Cabinet meeting chaired by the Head of State, it was noted with concern the continued increase in crashes along major Kenyan roads...

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Apr 18, 2023 - 15:32 Updated: Apr 18, 2023 - 15:48
0
Cabinet Issues Orders Hours After Naivasha Accident Killing 6 Students
Wreckage of the matatu that was involved in an accident near Delamere farm in Naivasha along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway. /STANDARD DIGITAL

President William Ruto's Cabinet on Tuesday, April 18 issued immediate directives in response to the recent spike in road accidents across the country.

During the Cabinet meeting chaired by the Head of State, it was noted with concern the continued increase in crashes along major Kenyan roads which it attributed to human error.

As a result, Ruto's cabinet directed National Police Service (NPS) and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to take action by increasing surveillance and cracking down on rogue motorists breaking traffic rules and endangering their passengers as well as pedestrians.

President William Ruto addressing the Muslim faithful during Iftar at State House, Nairobi, on Monday, April 17, 2023. /PCS

"Cabinet has condoled with the families of the children who lost their lives this morning in a road accident along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.

"Cabinet has expressed concern over the continued increase in road carnage in the country and directed the Ministry of Interior & National Administration jointly with the Ministry of Roads & Transport to take remedial action. The directive reiterated that the traffic code must be enforced in a manner that enhances road safety, especially during this long rainy season," read the despatch from Cabinet.

The directive came hours after at least six students were killed after a Nissan matatu they were travelling in collided with a lorry along the Nairobi- Nakuru Highway near Delamere farm in Naivasha.

Naivasha OCPD Samuel Waweru confirmed the accident, stating that the matatu was ferrying students from a boarding school on its way to Nairobi from Western Kenya.

At least 10 others who were injured were rushed to Naivasha County Hospital for medical attention while the six students died on the spot.

Kenya Red Cross stated that the accident occurred at 1.55 pm with the PSV from SWAT Sacco colliding with a transit trailer and losing control before veering into a lorry.

"Among the passengers were 11 students and a driver from Mbihi Friends High School. Our KRCS team has set up a tracing desk at the hospital to support the affected families," Kenya Red Cross stated in part.

The accident adds to the number of road crashes in recent weeks that is threatening to turn the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway into one of the most dangerous roads to drive on.

Easy Coach on Monday, April 3 issued a statement after one of its buses rammed into a trailer near Naivasha weighbridge along the Nairobi‐Nakuru Highway on Sunday night, April 2.

The bus company revealed that the bus, which was reportedly full of passengers, was travelling to Malaba on Kenya's western border with Uganda when it collided with a trailer before the former veered off the highway.

Across the country, on April 18, a road accident occurred along the Murang'a-Maragua Road involving a matatu and a lorry.

Speaking to Viral Tea, an official from Sikika Road Safety identified a key problem being the continuous yellow line along the road, which is an indication that drivers are not supposed to overtake.

The line is mostly found at corners, crossing zones, approaching/at bridges, black spots, sharp hills and near junctions among other places.

"It could most likely be human error," the official told Viral Tea.

However, he did not disclose the number of casualties from the accident, coming moments apart from the Naivasha crash.

Wreckage of an accident involving a matatu and a lorry along Murang'a-Maragua Road on April 18, 2023. /FACEBOOK.SIKIKA ROAD SAFETY

Tags: