This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
On the night of October 4, 2019, a horrific road accident occurred on the Kisumu-Kericho road, claiming the lives of 13 people. The incident was reported to Standard Group journalists by a junior police officer, who called journalist Harold Odhiambo at around midnight. The officer's shaky voice conveyed the gravity of the situation, and Odhiambo quickly mobilized the team from Standard Digital, KTN, and Radio Maisha.
Within 20 minutes, the team, comprising Denish Ochieng, Harold Odhiambo, Nicholas Mburu, Yusuf Gowi, Kepher Otieno, and Collins Odiwuor, was on the road, coordinating their coverage with the Kisumu Bureau Chief, John Oywa. The team's swift response was a testament to their dedication to reporting on critical events.
As they approached the accident scene at Pala, the team witnessed the devastating aftermath of the crash. Pools of blood were scattered across the tarmac, and clothes soaked in blood lay amidst the wreckage of the Eldoret Express bus and the lorry. Locals were in shock, struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
Joseph Ouko, a driver who witnessed the accident, shared his account with The Standard, stating, 'It was heartbreaking. We managed to remove some of the victims from the vehicle but there was little we could do to help them.'
Regional Police Commander Vincent Makhoka attributed the accident to the bright lights from the truck, which he claimed confused the bus driver, resulting in a head-on collision. The team interviewed several survivors at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, who recounted the last moments before the crash and the series of delays that plagued their journey from Uyoma to Nairobi.
