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Kenya: Black December – 12 Die On Roads in Just 2 Days

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4 years ago

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At least 12 people have died in road crashes over the last two days as this year’s December emerges to be the deadliest in the last four years.

Statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and police indicate that between December 1 and December 12, at least 175, including those in the recent Mwingi bus tragedy, have perished.

Over the same period last year, 155 people lost their lives compared to 107 who died in the 12 days in 2019.

More people have also died on the roads so far this year, with NTSA putting the total tally so far at 4,012, compared to 3,663, during the same period last year.

And the statistics are likely to get grimmer as Christmas and New Year travel, including the crash-prone night travel, and festivities set in.

The latest accident, which happened in Roka area along the Kilifi-Mombasa highway on Saturday night, claimed the lives of seven people.

During the 7.30pm accident, two children, three women and two men died after two matatus collided head-on.

Kilifi North Sub-County Police Commander Jonathan Koech said three out of 17 survivors admitted to Kilifi County and Referral Hospital were discharged on Sunday morning.

Head-on collision

Kilifi County and Referral Hospital Medical Superintendent Eddy Nzomo said two people are yet to be identified.

“We have two unknown females who are unconscious and whose relatives have not come forward to identify them,” he said.

In Embu, one person died and 13 others were seriously injured when a truck collided head-on with a matatu along the Embu-Makutano road on Saturday night.

Witness said the truck was travelling to Embu from Mwea when the driver lost control and crashed into the Nairobi bound Matatu which had 14 passengers on board.

The occurred near Rubingazi River Bridge, on the border of Embu and Kirinyaga counties, with the casualties remaining trapped in the mangled matatu.

Mwea East Sub-County police boss Daniel Kitavi said the truck driver, who vanished after the crash, will be charged with causing death by careless driving once arrested.

“The driver went into hiding soon after the accident and we are looking for him so that he can be arraigned,” he said.