Police officer killed in Kericho highway accident

A police officer died on Monday, December 25, following an accident involving a 52-seater bus that rammed into a roadblock at Kericho-Sotik highway.

The bus, which belongs to Githurai Sacco was ferrying passengers from Nairobi to Kisumu also ram into a trailer before landing in a ditch leaving 31 passengers seriously injured.

Kericho Deputy OCPD Nathan Sanya confirmed the incident, saying that the brakes of the bus failed and attempts to bring it to a stop proved unsuccessful.

“Members of the public tried to mount stones on the road to stop the bus but it did not stop,” he said.

Sanya added; “The bus rammed into the trailer which was negotiating the roadblock, including a police officer who was manning it before landing in a ditch.”

The body of the officer was moved to Kericho County Referral Hospital mortuary. The injured passengers are being treated at Kericho County Referral Hospital and Siloam Hospital.

The Deputy OCPD also said they will investigate the bus to establish if it is licensed to ply the route and take appropriate action if it is found to have flouted traffic rules.

Simon Kimutai, chairman of Matatu Owners Association who arrived at the scene said that the bus should be investigated as it should only be operating the Githurai route in Nairobi.

The MOA head said the bus seems to have taken advantage of the Christmas season to ferry long distance passengers.