Governor Nyong'o Poses 4 Tough Questions After Super Metro Accident Kills 17

Kisumu Governor, Anyang' Nyong'o on Monday, January 29 posed four tough questions that the authorities will be compelled to answer following a grisly road accident where a Super Metro bus from Kampala was involved in a head-on collision with a lorry in Ahero on the Kisumu-Nairobi Highway.

Preliminary reports indicated that the 17 people since confirmed killed in the accident included two women, 8 men and a teenage boy. A total of 53 passengers suffered injuries as a result of the accident, Nyanza Regional Traffic Enforcement Officer Allan Mwangi confirmed.

Reports indicated that the 2.30 am accident happened after a bus belonging to Super Metro Transport Company rammed into a lorry as it tried to overtake a saloon car, with the likelihood that the death toll may increase. Two drivers, who were on board the ill-fated bus at the time of the crash, perished.

"Multiple injured individuals have been taken to Ahero Sub-county Hospital while critical cases are now being directed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital," Kenya Red Cross stated.

Residents of Othoo salvaging sugar remains strewn on the road after an accident in Ahero, on January 29, 2024. /PHOTO

"Kenya Red Cross is actively involved in providing Psychosocial Support and managing a Tracing Desk."

Reacting to the accident, Governor Nyong'o in a statement questioned if the vehicles involved in the accident were roadworthy, carrying passengers beyond required capacity and if they were licensed to operate in the route.

"The Othoo accident, for example, has raised many questions which the traffic police must help us answer. Were the vehicles involved in the crash roadworthy? 

"Was the bus carrying passengers beyond its capacity? What became of the rule barring lorries and trailers from using the highways at night? Was the bus licensed to operate on the route?" the governor posed.

He thus appealed to the National Police Service (NPS) to open investigations into the rising number of accidents along Nyanza roads, stating that between December 2023 and Monday, many lives have been lost in accidents, some of which could have been avoided.

"To help minimize road accidents, the police must effectively enforce traffic rules and take harsh action against those flouting these rules.

"On behalf of the people of Kisumu and the County Government, I wish to send my heartfelt condolence to the families of those who perished in the Othoo accident and wish a quick recovery to the injured," he added.

Super Metro on their part confirmed the accident and offered their condolences to the family members of the casualties.

“As Super Metro family would like to inform the public that it's so unfortunate that one of our buses plying the Kampala-Nairobi route was involved in an accident before Awasi along Kisumu- Nairobi Highway”.

“We would wish to convey a message of condolence to the families that lost their beloved ones and quick recovery to those who are in the hospital”, Super Metro stated.

Super Coach Executive Limited is Super Metro's sister company which handles long-distance travel. It periodically covers long distances outside Nairobi during festive seasons such as Christmas and Easter weekends compared to its sibling which operates within the Nairobi Metropolitan area and was recently issued long-distance travel permits to allow the Sacco to ply outside Nairobi.

It was the second tragic road accident in the Nyanza region in three days, coming after The Star Newspaper Journalist Dickens Wasonga lost his life in another road crash in Mamboleo along the Kisumu-Kakamega road.