By Lucianne Limo

Family and friends flocked the home of Nick Murunga, who lost two children in a bus accident in Athi River.

A sombre mood engulfed the home of the Murungas at Valley View estate in Mlolongo, as they came to terms with the tragic death of their precious girls Felicia and Lisa Murunga. They were aged five and four.

“I have lost my children and it’s the most painful thing. They were very jolly and lovely kids who performed well in school,” said Nick, who works at National Health Insurance Fund.

“I called and nobody seemed to know where my children were, then I knew something had happened,” Murunga said.

He said a friend informed him that his wife rushed to hospital and found out they had died on the spot, a rather strong father of three added.

The Murungas said the school administration did not bother to call them until Thursday, 20 hours after the accident.

His wife, Nancy, was too distraught to speak to the Press.

Pictures of the two girls smiling donned the walls of their home and pink bicycles at the verandah served as a painful reminder the girls were no more.

Another family is mourning the demise of their daughter, who was also in the bus.

Sarah Obara, a former nutritionist at Kenyatta National Hospital and Dr Njogu Chege lost a daughter Deborah Wamboi, eleven.

On Wednesday, a bus carrying children from Acacia Crest School was hit by a mini-bus near Sabaki estate at 4.30pm.

Police are looking for the driver, Patrick Kuria, who escaped immediately after the accident. The driver of the bus is alleged to have made an illegal entry.

“We are looking for the driver and will charge him with causing death through dangerous driving,” said a police officer, who refused to be named since he is not authorised to speak to the Press.

The wreckage of the school bus remains a testimony of the impact of the accident. All windows were shattered, shoes, school bags, jackets, books belonging to the pupils were strewn all over.

Broken limbs

Many of the injured suffered broken limbs, chest injuries and head injuries.

At least 38 children, aged between four and 12, were taken to Shalom Athi River Community Hospital with slight injuries and two were admitted at the Mater and Nairobi hospitals.

According to the head teacher Catherine Maina, the bus normally collects the children in the morning from their homes and takes them back at 4pm.

Angry parents who had visited the Murungas said they have on numerous occasions complained to the school management against overloading the bus.

“Instead of Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo caring about the size of skirts, he should look at school transport,” said Kipruto Chingi.

The headmistress said the injured children were rushed to hospital by Kenya Red Cross.