PHOEBE OKALL | NATION Shocked residents view the wreckage of the bus that plunged into Uwaani River in Machakos on August 21, 2011 night killing 23 people from a dowry ceremony.
By Bob Odalo bodalo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, August 22 2011 at 22:00
Posted Monday, August 22 2011 at 22:00
IN SUMMARY
- He failed to stop after being flagged down at roadblock on August 13
The driver of a bus that was involved in a road accident, claiming the lives of 23 people, was wanted by traffic police for defying orders to stop at a roadblock.
Records at the Machakos Police Station show that the driver, Mr Joshua Kyalo Muli, who died in the accident, failed to stop after being flagged down at a roadblock in Mwanyani area on the Machakos-Kitui road.
He defied the order on August 13, just a week before he was involved in an accident on the Wote-Tawa road.
“The vehicle was on hire and it appeared to have been carrying mourners who were possibly heading to Kitui for a burial. The bus had red ribbons that are displayed when vehicles are hired for burials,” said a traffic police officer who witnessed the defiance.
Appearing under the section ‘Wanted’ and dated August 13, the report reads: “Motor vehicle number KBL383… on 13/8/2011 at 10am, while heading towards Kitui and at 3pm while returning, escaped both police checks at Kalumoni area and Machakos...”
Machakos traffic commandant Dorcas Nyaga reportedly gave orders to her juniors to impound the vehicle if spotted on the road.
Traffic police officers in Machakos were on Sunday taken aback when a public service vehicle on their wanted list was towed to the station after being involved in an accident that claimed 23 lives and left 36 other people injured.
A number of passengers who were on the ill-fated bus have blamed the driver for being reckless.
The driver is also accused of having been under the influence of alcohol when he crashed the vehicle.
Ms Fresia Mutinda, 25, who is currently recovering at Machakos District Hospital said: “First, he (the driver) had a problem with passengers when he chose to avoid the Machakos-Makueni road that is tarmacked and preferred the dusty Makueni-Tawa road. He also ignored pleas from us to stop driving dangerously.”
Meanwhile, five victims of the mini-bus accident in Mbooni constituency were on Monday discharged from hospital, leaving behind 11 who are still undergoing treatment.
Speaking when he briefed visiting Eastern provincial commissioner Clara Omollo, Machakos Level 5 Hospital superintendent, Dr Joab Osumba, said those discharged had injuries that could be treated from home.
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