NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 4 – Twenty-three people died on Saturday while 10 others were rescued after a bus they were traveling in rolled into Mwingi’s Enziu River as the driver attempted to cross a flooded section of the Nuu-Mwingi road.
Authorities reported an initial toll of four deaths but later confirmed the recovery of nineteen more bodies.
Some of the victims were pulled out of the mud on the edge of the river even as rescue teams worked to retrieve the wreckage of the bus stuck below the surface of the water with an unknown number of people trapped inside.
It was not immediately clear how many people were on board the bus with a projected sitting capacity of over fifty passengers who were being ferried to a wedding
Mwingi East sub-county police commander Joseph Yakan said search and rescue efforts were underway even as agencies worked to establish the number of people booked on the bus before it set out on the journey to Mwingi North.
Local residents gather by the river bank as search teams work to retrieve bodies trapped in the bus/CFM
Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu who visited scene called for calm as search teams worked to retrieve the bodies.
Ngilu also challenged the national government to expedite the construction of a bridge over the seasonal river which has claimed lives in the past.
ODM leader Raila Odinga urged security agencies to guide road users on unsafe sections of the road to avert similar incidents.
“I appeal to the authorities on the ground to remain alert and guide our people during this period on the dark spots on the road, including the roads, bridges and rivers that are prone to sudden flooding and should be avoided. With vigilance and proper guidance, this accident could have been avoided,” he said in an emailed statement.
Deputy President William Ruto urged road users to exercise caution even as he conveyed a condolence message to families affected by the tragedy.
“We urge motorists to be extra cautious especially now when we are experiencing heavy rains across the country,” he said.
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