Six school children killed in Kitui road accident

Six school-going children were killed this morning when a speeding car veered off the road and hit them in Kyoani, on the Mutomo-Kibwezi road.

Area assistant chief Patrick Ngala, one of the first responders, said the Toyota Probox lost control and ploughed into the children as they walked to school, killing all six on the spot.

"It is a terrible accident. We are deeply saddened by the loss of such young lives," Ngala said. 

The bodies were moved to Mutomo Hospital mortuary.

A police report filed at Ikutha Police Station confirmed that five of the victims were girls, and one was a boy in grade three at Kyoani Primary School. 

Among the dead are two girls in grades three and six from the same school. 

Kyoani Secondary School also lost a Form Three girl and two Form One students.

The report stated that the car was traveling from Kibwezi towards Mutomo when the accident occurred at around 6:20am. 

The driver has since been arrested, and local police have launched an investigation.

Ngala urged motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution on the newly paved road, which has seen a rise in fatal accidents, mostly due to speeding and carelessness.