How Kenyans are rushing to their deaths in the name of Christmas and New Year celebrations
Desperate Kenyans are ready to board any vehicle as long as they get to their destinations for December festivities. Unknown to many is some of the vehicles they travel on are death traps.
Travelers crammed into Nairobi city service matatus to travel upcountry since 23rd December. The law of supply and demand was evident as thousands of Kenyans traveling at ago caused fare to increase drastically.
Traveling to Kisumu on a shuttle usually costs Kes 1000 on normal days but in December the cheapest fare to the lakeside city was Kes2000.
Nairobi city service buses were brought in to ferry thousands of desperate Nairobians traveling upcountry. Buses and matatus plying long distance routes couldn’t cope with the sheer number of travelers.
Most travelers risked their lives traveling on Nairobi city service buses. These buses are usually doomed because drivers are not familiar with the routes and most Nairobi city service buses are not in condition to travel long distance journeys.
Githurai Sacco buses cause double accidents
On December 25th 2017 a Githurai Traveller Sacco bus crashed at the Kericho junction to Kisumu killing three people. The bus was plying a new route without authorization from National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
The accident happened as the 52-seater bus was negotiating spikes at a roadblock before it crashed into an oncoming lorry. Several passengers jumped out of the vehicle minutes before the crash.
On December 26th 2017 another Githurai Sacco bus overturned at dreamland area in Matuu along the Thika-Kitui highway.
Three people died while 34 others sustained injuries following the accident. The accident happened when the ill-fated Githurai Sacco bus lost control and overturned.
The story is same in all Decembers in previous years. Several grisly accidents have been caused by town service buses because people can’t resist the lure for money.
Travelers are partly to be blamed for this carnage. Don’t be too desperate to travel upcountry for December festivities.
The moment you get into a Nairobi city service bus to travel upcountry you are basically putting your life on the line. Thank your God if you reach your destination in one piece. Just resist these town service matatus traveling upcountry and end this madness on our roads.
