Governor Nyong'o Raises Tough Questions After Accident Killed 17

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has called on the National Police Service to open investigations after seventeen people were killed in a grisly accident at Othoo along the Kisumu-Nairobi highway.

In a statement on Monday January 29, Governor Nyong’o questioned if the vehicles involved in the accident were road worthy, carrying passengers beyond required capacity and if they were licensed to operate in the route.

The Kisumu Governor also wondered what happened to the rule barring lorries and trailers from using highways at night.

Nyong’o observed that the number of accidents in the Nyanza region is on the rise with many people losing their lives in some accidents which could have been avoided.

“The Othoo accident, for example, has raised many questions which the traffic police must help us answer. Were the vehicles involved in the crash road worthy? Was the bus carrying passengers beyond its capacity? What became of the rule barring lorries and trailers from using the highways at night? Was the bus licensed to operate on the route?” he questioned.

The ODM Governor noted that the police should effectively enforce traffic rules and take harsh action against those flouting the rules in order to minimize road accidents.

“On behalf of the people of Kisumu and the County Government, I wish to send my heartfelt condolence to the families of those who perished in the Othoo accident and wish quick recovery to the injured,” he added.

Nyong’o mentioned that the Monday morning accident was the second one in a span on three days in Kisumu County.

The Othoo accident happened on Monday at 2:30 am after a Super Metro bus rammed into a lorry as it tried to overtake a saloon car.

Kenya Red Cross in an update said the injured passengers were taken to Ahero Sub-county Hospital while the critical cases were directed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.