Four die, 22 sustain injuries in road accident in Uasin Gishu

Four people died and 22 others sustained injuries in a Sunday morning accident involving three vehicles at Kosachei, along Eldoret-Malaba highway, Uasin Gishu County.

Uasin Gishu county police Commander Ayub Gitonga said the accident occurred after an 11-seater matatu heading to Webuye from Eldoret, hit a slow-moving truck from the rear, which was carrying building materials.

“After the matatu hit the truck, injured passengers started calling out for help. A driver of an oncoming matatu stopped by the roadside and some men rushed to rescue the passengers,” said Gitonga.

It is while they were trying to rescue casualties from the ill-fated matatu, said Gitonga, that another truck headed to Webuye, lost control and hit the matatu, pushing it to a ditch by the roadside.

“Three people lost their lives on the spot, while the fourth succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Eldoret. Out of the injured, 17 were treated and discharged while five were admitted due to the severity of the injuries they had sustained,” explained the commander.

Casualties who spoke to The Standard at the scene narrated the ordeal with most of the still in shock.

“After we witnessed the accident, the driver and a few other people rushed to offer help. Suddenly, we heard a loud bang and we were thrown into the ditch,” said a visibly shaken Shadrack Jakaite, who sustained head injuries.

Jakaite, who was travelling from Naivasha to Western with his sister, said he is grateful that they survived. 

His sister, Philis Akisa and her two-year-old baby were pulled out of the wreckage unscathed.

“I am still feeling a sharp pain in the head, but doctors assured me it is not serious. I am still in shock. I don’t know where the rest of the people I was travelling with are,” said Patrick Kawa, who sustained a head injury.

Area Member of National Assembly Janet Sitienei, who was at the scene, expressed her disappointment over the state of the road.

“We have been witnessing many accidents here because this stretch is so narrow. The government should expand this road and erect more speed bumps to avert such calamities,” she said.