One person has died and several others are nursing injuries after a Citi Hoppa bus was involved in an accident in Nairobi CBD on Monday, September 13, night.
Confirming the incident, Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria said that the incident occurred near the Serena Hotel at about 11pm.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the 51-seater bus lost control and eventually overturned, thus injuring and trapping the passengers. It is, however, unclear the number of passengers the bus was carrying at the time of the accident.
The accident caused a traffic standstill along Kenyatta Avenue, with passers-by and other motorists swarming the scene to assess the situation and help with rescue efforts.
Security and emergency service providers from the Nairobi County Government were immediately dispatched to the scene to help with rescue efforts.
"There has been a serious accident involving a City Hoppa bus near Serena, on the way to the State House. Many people have been injured, and some are trapped under the bus," Mosiria said.
"We are here at Serena, and we are mobilising for ambulances, so if you are an emergency service provider, please send your ambulances because we need more ambulances to take the injured to the hospital," he added.
Security agencies have kick-started investigations to determine what was the exact cause of the accident, which is suspected to have been caused by reckless driving.
According to Mosiria, there is a need for police and other authorities to reinforce traffic laws to curb the accelerating rate of road crashes, particularly in the country's capital. He added that safety belts and speed governors should be reintroduced to ensure road safety.
Motorists have been further advised to remain vigilant and ensure that they adhere to the set speed limits, ensuring that their vehicles are mechanically fit, and that their passengers are well secured in their seats using safety belts.
"I call upon the police and relevant authorities to reintroduce the Michuki traffic rules. Safety belts and speed governors must be enforced, along with strict speed limits within cities like Nairobi," he said.
"We have recently lost lives that could have been saved if drivers had been more careful and followed the law, including the Waruku accident a few days ago and the tragic incident today at Valley Road near Serena," he added.
