A survivor of the ill-fated party-on-wheels bus has faulted the police for casting blame on the driver whose vehicle was involved in an accident that claimed 12 lives in Subuiga, Meru County.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday. October 11, he refuted claims that the driver was intoxicated when he was behind the wheel, which may have affected his competency on the road.
He insisted that the driver was sober throughout the trip adding that the design of the bus did not allow passengers access to the driver's section.
"I spoke to the driver at a stopover along our trip and confirm that he was sober. He was on duty as we hired him to ferry us to the conservancy.
"The bus was designed in such a way that the driver was not allowed to access the party area or vice versa. As such, he did not have anything to drink," the survivor reiterated.
Speaking to Citizen TV on condition of anonymity, the survivor, who identified himself as one of the trip organizers, watered down reports by the police that the bus was not licensed to operate the road.
He disclosed intimated that en route, they stopped at several roadblocks but the traffic police officers took no issue with the bus and allowed them to proceed with the trip.
"We met several policemen and they did not check the bus. Had they done their work, then they could have alerted us that the bus was not allowed on the road because of this or that," the survivor recounted.
He confirmed that the fabricated bus was in good condition throughout the trip until the accident happened at about 8 pm. Recounting how the events unfolded, he stated that all he heard was a loud bang that knocked him out.
The vehicle had rammed into a 14-seater minivan killing 11 on the spot including three occupants of the bus. Among those who perished include the driver.
Reports had indicated that the bus did not have a valid inspection certificate since the permit had expired on July 15, 2021.
In addition, the party on Wheels bus also allegedly lacked a road service license which details its registration number, route served, contact of the Sacco, Sacco name, and expiry date of the permit despite serving as a Public Service Vehicle (PSV).
