The driver of the truck that killed 52 people in an accident at Londiani junction on July 1 is now pleading to be released on bond so that he may seek medical attention.
The driver was on Wednesday, July 19 arraigned at Molo Law Courts where he was presented with a charge sheet of 90 counts including dangerous driving. In addition, he was charged with causing damage to 10 vehicles which led to loss of many lives.
The fifty-two-year old Gilbert Mutuye Mungu appeared in court in a wheelchair with bruises all over his face sustained from the gruesome accident that occurred at Nakuru-Kisumu highway. He was among the 9 casualties that were rushed to Nakuru level 5 hospital.
“It was not intentional for the accident to happen. I am requesting for a bond so that I may receive treatment then we continue with the case,” he pleaded.
The driver, a Rwandese national, asserted that he was oblivious of the brakes fault on that fateful evening. He added that he is a responsible driver and wouldn’t have wished to take away the lives of innocent road users.
Molo Chief Magistrate Ellena Nderitu directed that the driver be held up at the Londiani Police Station in Kericho County as decisions on granting him bail are underway.
She confirmed that the decision on bail ruling will be made latest by Thursday 20. Meanwhile, the driver will spend the night at the station under strict supervision.
The magistrate noted that neither the driver’s employer nor relative has ever shown up in Kenya since the occurrence of the crash adding that this can easily lead to him fleeing if released on bond.
The truck was heading to Busia before it lost control and rammed into pedestrians, hawkers and other vehicles which were parked by the roadside.
Witnesses at the scene claimed that the driver of the truck was trying to avoid hitting a bus that was parked on the roadside after developing what seemed like a mechanical hitch before losing control.
In a previous interview, the driver explained that on the day of the accident, he tried stepping on the brakes but there was no response to halt the truck. He said that he had been driving on that route since 1997 and had never encountered such an experience during the 26 years.
Referring to the fatal accident, Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen urged motorists to be careful on the roads adding that the speed limits within the Londiani area were going to be revised, bumps erected and road signs made clearer.
