Several students were injured on Friday morning after a 14-seater matatu they were traveling in was involved in an accident at Witeithie, Kiambu County.
Eyewitnesses reported that the students, believed to be from Mugoiri Girls High School, were on their way home for the April holiday when the matatu lost control. The vehicle veered off the road and landed in a ditch.
Upon witnessing the accident, local residents quickly rushed to the scene and helped rescue the injured students from the wreckage. They then transported them to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
While the exact number of students involved in the crash remains unclear, no fatalities have been reported so far. Videos and photos shared online showed the matatu lying on its side, with a crowd of students and local residents gathered around it.
The accident caused a major traffic jam on the busy Thika Road as residents gathered on the highway, forcing some motorists to find alternative routes.
Recent Road Accidents Involving School Students
This incident adds to a growing number of accidents involving students in recent days. Earlier this week, tragedy struck when three students from Ober Boys lost their lives in a road crash along the Sondu-Katito Road in Nyakach, Kisumu County.
According to a police report, the accident occurred on Wednesday, April 2, when a matatu transporting students lost control and crashed into a stalled truck in the Kibuon area.
Nyakach OCPD Laurinus Odinga, who addressed journalists after the incident, stated that the accident left approximately 14 other students with serious injuries.
He explained that the crash happened at a sharp bend, and there were no warning signs indicating that a truck was parked along the roadside.
Sadly, three students and the matatu conductor died on the spot.
In another tragic event on the same day, five students from Mbita High School in Homa Bay were hit by a speeding private vehicle in Mbita town.
NTSA Urges Road Safety Measures
Following the increasing number of road accidents involving school children, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) issued a statement on Thursday, April 3, urging all stakeholders in the transport sector to implement safety measures.
NTSA emphasized that it would collaborate closely with the National Police Service (NPS) to crack down on reckless and non-compliant drivers, especially during the Easter holiday season.
“In the past, we have seen cases of careless driving and distractions involving students, some of which resulted in serious injuries and even fatalities,” NTSA stated.
The agency stressed that through joint efforts with law enforcement officers, parents, school administrations, transport providers, and students, such tragic incidents can be prevented.
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