A family member of the victims killed in a road accident involving an Easy Coach bus and a Toyota IST at Kikopey along the Gilgil-Nakuru Highway has spoken out following the tragedy.
The crash occurred on Sunday night, September 13, leaving five people travelling in the private vehicle dead.
Speaking hours after the accident, the family member revealed that four of the five victims were his close relatives, including his wife, daughter, brother-in-law, brother-in-law’s wife and their daughter.
“As I am speaking to you right now, I am saddened. All the people who have died are related to me by blood,” he said.
He added, “Of the five people, there is my wife and my daughter. Then there is my brother-in-law, his wife, and his daughter. I am now left alone.”
The bereaved family member, who has worked as a driver for more than three decades, said his extensive experience on the road made the circumstances surrounding the crash particularly difficult for him to comprehend.
He noted that he was familiar with the Gilgil-Nakuru Highway and questioned why some motorists continued to drive recklessly despite knowing the dangers posed by the route.
“My profession involves driving, which I have done for over 30 years. I am very familiar with this route, and I cannot understand why drivers drive so recklessly knowing very well how dangerous this route is,” he said.
The accident happened as the Easy Coach bus was travelling from Gilgil towards Nakuru, while the Toyota IST was approaching from the direction of Lake Nakuru.
The bus reportedly developed brake problems before colliding head-on with the private vehicle.
An eyewitness said the impact trapped a woman who was holding a child between the two vehicles. She was among those travelling in the Toyota IST.
The collision killed the occupants of the private car, with rescuers later relying on towing vehicles to separate the wrecked vehicles and retrieve the bodies. The driver of the Toyota IST was also among those killed in the crash.
One person was injured and was taken to Nakuru County Referral Hospital for treatment. No deaths were reported among passengers travelling in the Easy Coach bus, although some passengers reportedly sustained minor injuries.
Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Winston Mwakio confirmed that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash had commenced.
