2023-07-02 20:56:20
At least 52 people were killed following a truck towing a trailer struck several pedestrians and vehicles on a road in western Kenya, police confirmed.
“Yesterday 49 people were confirmed dead at the scene and three later succumbed to their injuries in hospital,” said Resila Onyango, a Kenyan police spokesman.
The accident took place around 6:30 p.m. local time (15:30 GMT) on Friday at the Londiani junction in Kericho County.
The Kenyan Minister of Roads and Transport, Kipchumba Murkomen, visited the scene on Saturday from where he declared that the truck involved in the accident was not Kenyan property, but was registered in Rwanda.
“It is difficult to know now if the truck was roadworthy, as we will have to involve the Rwandan government in this matter,” the minister said.
Murkomen also assured that he will give instructions so that the roads are designed in such a way that there is space around them for open markets in a country where it is common, as in many other places in Africa, for small traders to stand on their sides to sell their products. .
According to the regional commissioner of the Rift Valley, where Kericho is located, Abdi Hassan, 30 people were also injured in the accident.
Kenyan media reported last night, however, that more than sixty people were rushed to different hospitals in that county and neighboring Nakuru.
The President of Kenya, William Ruto, said Friday through the social network Twitter that “the country mourns with the families who have lost their loved ones in a terrible traffic accident.”
Ruto stressed that “it is heartbreaking that some of the fatalities are young people with a promising future and businessmen carrying out their daily chores” and asked drivers “to be more cautious on the roads, especially now that we are experiencing heavy rains.” .
The truck driver apparently lost control and ran over pedestrians, shopkeepers and matatus (collective transport vans) who were parked on the side of the road, according to eyewitnesses.
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