2 chiefs among 11 killed as speeding matatu rolls

Members of the public mill around the wreckage of a matatu vehicle that involved in an accident along Eldoret, Kaptagat- Ravine road, Keiyo South Constituency in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Tuesday night. 11 people lost their and three other seriously injured and were rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. 29.01.2019. [PHOTOS: PETER OCHIENG/STANDARD].

Eleven people died on Monday night when the matatu they were travelling in was involved in an accident in Elgeyo Marakwet.

The vehicle rolled along the Eldoret-Eldama Ravine road.

Those killed included two assistant chiefs, a teacher and the driver of the ill-fated 14-seater matatu.

The victims were from Metkei and Kabiemit wards in Keiyo South constituency.

The chiefs were returning from attending a security meeting in Iten town.

Last moments

Family and friends were overcome with grief as they recounted their last moments with the victims.

At Chepkosom village, four families lost relatives in the accident.

Chepkosom Assistant Chief Priscilla Kiprotich was among the victims. Tears flowed as her husband, Abraham Kiprotich, said his wife died just 50 metres from home. 

Mr Kiprotich said he was waiting for his wife at HZ centre so they could walk home together.

“I had just called and asked her how far she was. She said she would be alighting in a few minutes. Soon after that, I heard people say a terrible accident had happened.”

Kiprotich said it never dawned on him that his wife of three decades could be among the victims. “I never imagine she was in the ill-fated matatu. However, I was alarmed when I was unable to reach her through her cell phone. I went to the scene and found my wife was among the victims.”

Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner Omar Ahmed and the security team visited the bereaved families to break the news to them.

“It is sad 11 people have perished in a flash. It gets even worse when such an accident is caused by human error,” Dr Ahmed said.

“Our investigations have shown that the driver was speeding, which made it hard for him to control the vehicle as he negotiated sharp corner.”

He said bumps would be erected on the stretch where the accident occurred to minimise accidents.

Ahmed said the stretch, marked as a black spot, had claimed 20 lives in the past five years.

Villagers visited the affected homed to condole with the families.

Resourceful member

“We have lost an industrious administrator who was also her family’s breadwinner. Priscilla was a resourceful member of our society. She has been engaged in several social activities, including empowering widows and other vulnerable members of the society. She was also a church leader,” said Selly Kipruto, a neighbour.

Daniel Koskei was among the victims. His widow, Linah said: “He rarely comes home late. At 9.30pm on Monday, my children told me they had heard about a road accident. I never imagined my husband was one of the victims. However, I got concerned when I called and his phone was off.”