Two people perished in a grisly road accident at St. Joseph’s primary school junction along Malaba- Eldoret Highway that involved a long distance truck.
According to eyewitness, the trailer which was coming from Bungoma was being driven in a terrific speed and lost control and hit St. Joseph’s bodaboda shed which had two ladies who were taking shed due to the rains.
Some bodaboda escaped the ordeal as they ran away on time after seeing the trailer leaving the road and coming their way but the two never managed to escape and the trailer ran over them killing them instantly after hitting the perimeter wall of the Catholic Church.
Villagers led by Jacob Machembe Machacha condemned the incident over careless driving and appealed to drivers to be careful especially when approaching St. Joseph’s market as it’s a business place and of late has become a hot spot.
They have asked the government through Kenya National Highway Authority to put bumps on the Northern corridor road in order to avoid such accidents adding that for the last few months many innocent lives have been lost through careless driving on the road but nothing has ever happened and promised to take matters in their hands if the government will not heed to their call.
They have also appealed to the county government of Bungoma to build market for business community at St. Joseph’s market as it has a big crowd every Sunday which is their market day adding that if the incident had happened on a Sunday or during lunch time when school children were crossing the road many could have lost lives, claiming that they also pay tax like any other and the issue of the market is long overdue.
Bodaboda operators have threatened to close the road and demonstrate so that the government can take action, ” seemingly the only language the government understands is demonstration because we are losing lives each week but no action is being taken and therefore if again nothing happens then we will be left with no other options but to paralyze business on the road until the government heeds our call”, said one of the bodaboda.
On his side, Bungoma East OCPD Valerian Obore confirmed the incident and said two people lost their lives and said they had arrested the driver and have begun investigation over the accident and appealed to residents to be calm as action will be taken against the culprit.
He has also appealed to road users to be careful as they use the road especially the drivers during this rainy season.
The body of the two were taken to Webuye County hospital as police launch investigations.
