Road Carnage:Bus company officials on the defensive

CARNAGE

FEBRUARY 24, 2010

By EUGENE OMILO

Managers at the Mombasa Raha Bus Company which owns the bus involved in a grisly accident in Voi have blamed truck drivers for the frequency with which accidents have occurred along the Nairobi Mombasa highway.

An official at the Mombasa booking office who spoke on condition of anonymity since he is not authorized to speak for the company said the ill fated bus’ driver, simply known as Salim was one of the most experienced drivers the company has had of late.

Salim died alongside nine other passengers in the bus which was headed to Malindi from Nairobi after it collided with an oncoming truck between Matungu and Voi at dawn yesterday.

“The truck was carrying scrap metal at 4 am yet it is not supposed to transport such luggage at that time. Most drivers get tired at night then leave their inexperienced turn boys to drive the trucks while they sleep,” said the official.

He said the drivers are not overworked as alleged since they only drive one way to Nairobi then rest throughout the day before resuming duty at night.

The company’s transport manager Kalonzo Kyengo said the company has paid for the treatment of the eight passengers slightly injured and the two who were seriously injured.

He said all have been treated and discharged at the Voi district hospital.

Kyengo said the company has a large fleet of well maintained buses used for their local routes and those in Tanzania and said the accident cannot be blamed on the condition of the buses.

ENDS…