KU Bus Accident Survivor Recalls Moments Before Tragedy
Kenyatta University (KU) student Felix Onyango who miraculously survived the horrific bus accident that claimed the lives of eleven fellow students has recounted the tragic events that unfolded on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway on Monday.
Onyango, speaking to the press on Tuesday, described a seemingly ordinary journey that turned disastrous near Voi. Rain hampered visibility, and according to Onyango's account, the bus driver made a fatal error in judgment. In an attempt to overtake other vehicles on the busy highway, the driver entered the oncoming lane. Disaster struck when the driver swerved back into his lane to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming trailer.
The manoeuvre proved too late, and a devastating impact occurred. The force of the collision claimed the lives of eleven students and left many others critically injured. Some of the most severely injured were airlifted to Nairobi hospitals for specialist care. Before the trip, the students had reportedly inspected the bus to ensure its roadworthiness. Another survivor who sustained hand injuries revealed that passengers seated in the rear of the vehicle bore the brunt of the impact.
The lack of seatbelt use among some students resulted in them being ejected from the bus at high speeds, sustaining serious injuries to their necks, legs, and hands. The survivor recounted the harrowing scene: "Students were thrown out at high speeds. I don't know if they survived or where they are now. The heavy rain made it difficult for the driver to see, but his speed was also a factor." The survivor further revealed that many of those ejected lost consciousness and only have memories of receiving medical treatment.
The Kenyan government has vowed to take action in the wake of this tragedy. Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a series of new measures aimed at improving road safety. These measures include increased collaboration between officers from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and traffic police. This decision marks a reversal of a previous directive by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who had removed the NTSA from Kenyan roads in 2018.
NTSA has reported a concerning increase in road accident fatalities during the first two months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This trend highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring road safety in Kenya. The data reveals a rise in overall deaths, with 649 fatalities recorded in 2024 compared to 623 in 2023. Pedestrians are the most affected by this increase, with a significant jump from 190 to 252 deaths. While there is a slight decrease in motorcyclist fatalities (177 in 2023 to 152 in 2024), the number of passengers killed has risen from 114 to 125.
A positive trend is the decrease in driver and pillion passenger deaths. Driver fatalities dropped from 59 to 43, and pillion passenger deaths fell from 71 to 61. Additionally, there are fewer pedal cyclist deaths, with 10 recorded in 2024 compared to 12 in 2023. The NTSA's 2023 report identifies losing control of a vehicle as a major risk factor, contributing to 929 deaths. This highlights the importance of safe driving practices and proper vehicle maintenance. The report also emphasizes the dangers of lane indiscipline (491 deaths), improper overtaking (443 deaths), and misjudging clearance, distance, or speed (310 deaths). Inappropriate speed was a factor in 274 deaths, while other errors in judgment or negligence caused 219 fatalities.
The data also sheds light on specific behaviours that contribute to accidents. Pedestrian fatalities are particularly concerning, with 121 deaths occurring when individuals strayed from designated walkways and 73 deaths attributed to crossing roads obscured by parked vehicles. Turning without due care resulted in 84 deaths, and abrupt swerves claimed 58 lives. Tragically, 60 lives were lost due to pedestrians walking or standing on the roadway, and brake failure was a factor in 45 fatalities.
The report further identifies Saturdays as the most dangerous day for travel in Kenya in 2023, with 780 fatalities. This was followed by Sundays (778 deaths) and Fridays (645 deaths). While these numbers represent a decrease from 2022, they underscore the need for heightened awareness and caution on weekends.