This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
On August 6, 2019, a tragic accident occurred on the Kerio escarpments in Elgeyo Marakwet County when a 52-seater Kapchebau Secondary School bus veered off the road and rolled several times on the rocky escarpment.
According to eyewitnesses, the bus sped off down the road and suddenly flew off the road on the upper side of the cliff, landing on the same road on the lower side of the cliff. Some falling rocks further wrecked the bus, killing the co-driver on the spot.
Abraham Ruto, a resident of Kaptul village near the scene, stated that locals rushed to the scene and discovered that the bus had two occupants, including the driver and an unidentified occupant. The seriously injured driver was rushed to Endo Mission Hospital in Marakwet East constituency and later referred to Kapsowar Mission for specialized treatment.
Elgeyo Marakwet County commander John Mwinzi attributed the accident to the driver losing control of the vehicle while negotiating bends in the rugged terrain. The driver was heading to Tot Mixed Secondary to pick students who were heading to Kabarak University for the national music festivals.
Mr. Mwinzi urged drivers to be cautious on the steep and winding road, stating, “We are urging drivers plying the route to be very careful because the road is steep and has many corners.”
At Tot Mixed Secondary School, students were anxiously waiting to perform at the 93rd national music festivals. School principal Lawrence Mutwol expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and stated that his school had paid Sh37,000 to hire the bus, which was yet to be secured for another trip.
