Family perishes in motorcycle accident

Three members of a family perished Friday in a grisly accident involving the motorcycle that was carrying them.

The three, a man, his wife and their six year old son were being ferried on a motorcycle when it was hit by a trailer at the Kasarani area along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

Taita Police Boss Herbert Khaemba said the 58 year old man and his 6-year-old son who had been sandwiched between the parents on the motor bike died on the spot while the wife was pronounced dead on arrival at the Moi District Hospital.

Khaemba said the couple's 2-year-old son who was saddled on the mother's back survived with minor injuries.

The boy is admitted to the hospital where his condition is being monitored.

Motor cycles commonly known as boda bodas have become the new menace along the Kenyan roads claiming thousands of lives as they take up the place of public transport vehicles (matatus) across the country as they are cheaper to buy and maintain.

However just like a huge section of matatu drivers, the motorcyclists are poorly trained with scanty knowledge of traffic rules, leading to a huge increase in accidents.

Khaemba said between 3 and 4 people were losing their lives every week in the district due to motorcycle accidents.

Consequently the police boss instructed the area traffic commander to ensure all motor cyclists attended professional driving schools noting that currently they train each other at the Moi Stadium for a day after which they take to the road.