A survivor of the ill-fated Super Metro bus that rammed into a lorry along the Kisumu-Nairobi Highway and instantly killed 17 people, recounted the final moments before the crash occurred.
Speaking to the press, Aziz Abubakar claimed that the driver was overspeeding to compensate for the time lost during an inspection at the Kenya-Uganda border.
The bus had left Kampala in Uganda and was destined for Nairobi.
He added that several passengers raised concerns over the speed but the driver did not heed their plea.
"The checks at the border delayed our journey and it seems the driver was trying to cover for the time lost. We went at high speed, overtaking all vehicles and he was ignoring our pleas," he stated.
Another survivor also recalled that the bus driver failed to control it while attempting to overtake, leading to a head-on collision with an oncoming lorry that was heading to Kisumu.
"If he weren't moving fast, he would have managed to control the bus but it wasn't the case. Fortunately, I sat at the driver's side and escaped with minor injuries. The left side, however, was destroyed," Isa Kigundu added.
Nyanza Regional Traffic enforcer Allan Mwangi noted that 11 people, including both drivers, died on the spot while 39 others sustained injuries. The bodies of the deceased were moved to the Ahero County Morgue.
Following the accident, Super Metro Sacco offered condolences to the families of the casualties and pledged to investigate the case.
"As Super Metro family, we would like to inform the public that it's so unfortunate that one of our buses plying the Kampala-Nairobi route was involved in an accident before Awasi along the Kisumu-Nairobi highway," the Sacco stated via its social platforms.
"We would wish to convey a message of condolence to the families that lost their beloved ones and quick recovery to those who are in hospital."
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), over 84 people died in the first week of January 2024, while 234 sustained dire injuries and 190 sustained minor injuries.
Among the 84 fatalities, pedestrians accounted for the largest number, 31, followed by motorcyclists (23), drivers (7), pillion passengers (6), and pedal cyclists (1).