12 Kenyans Die at Nithi Bridge as Gunmen Strike Along Moyale Highway
Key takeaways
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- Kenyans were dumbfounded as details streamed in from a fatal road accident that painfully claimed 12 lives.
- The accident occurred at the well-known and hazardous Nithi Bridge blackspot on the Nairobi-Meru highway.
- As Kenyans mourned the tragic deaths of passengers, including two children, gunmen attacked a bus bound for Moyale more than 500 kilometers away from the accident scene.
- The two incidents highlight the tragic recent days on Kenya’s roads, resulting in significant loss of life and numerous injuries.
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Nithi Bridge kills 12 more Kenyans in a devastating vehicle collision
Tharaka Nithi Police Commander Zacheaus Ng’eno faced reporters to explain the events leading up to the grisly road accident at Nithi Bridge along the Nairobi – Meru highway.
The latest accident follows a more fatal accident that occurred at the spot 2 years ago claiming 34 lives.
According to Commander Ng’eno, the Saturday night accident involved a pickup truck heading towards Meru and a Nairobi-bound 10-seater passenger van.
The passenger van was part of a convoy of vehicles carrying members of a self-help group returning from a parental blessing ceremony in Meru.
A survivor of the Accident, Emily Nzasu, gave her recollection of the incident to the media saying:
“Our matatu was the first to veer off course, but the driver managed to regain control and steer it back onto the track. The ten-seater matatu behind us, carrying ten passengers and two children, attempted to overtake us but lost control. It veered into the opposite lane and collided head-on with a Hilux pickup truck heading to Meru.”
The accident is one of many in a string of horrifying road carnages that have seen thousands of Kenyans die in recent years.
Nithi Bridge hit the headlines two years ago when a bus from the now-defunct Modern Coast Bus Company plunged into the river below the bridge. 34 lives including that of newly-qualified doctor Mary Mwandisha were lost.
Once again, Kenyans are voicing their frustration with the management of the country’s transport infrastructure.
Issues such as poorly designed roads, inadequate vehicle inspections, and rampant traffic rule violations are being blamed for the frequent and costly road accidents.
Many have decried unfulfilled government promises, especially from top officials, to enhance the road design at Nithi Bridge to ensure the safety of passengers and motorists.
One passenger shot and killed in a roadside attack on a bus traveling to Moyale
As Kenyans processed the tragic loss of lives at Nithi, another devastating incident happened more than 500 kilometers up north.
The incident involved a Moyale-bound bus which was shot at by unknown gunmen. The bus from Nairobi was attacked between Bori Junction and Dadach Lakole along the Marsabit-Moyale highway in Marsabit County.
Details on the identity of the attackers remain scanty with police suspecting that they could be members of a loose gang ravaging the area.
The surging bullets killed 1 passenger out of the 40 on the bus while 4 others were seriously injured.
The incident on the night of Monday, September 2nd, puts significant doubt on the reliability of the passenger transit business between Nairobi and Northern Kenya, despite recent improvements to the road network.
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