This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
On Thursday morning, a devastating collision between two Modern Coast buses on the Mombasa-Nairobi Road claimed the lives of seven people and injured over 60. The tragedy also took the lives of two drivers, Moses Wanjala and Japhfred Lucas Lukasile, who were friends and neighbors from Kakamega North Sub-County.
Moses Wanjala, 49, hailed from Mukabakaba village, which neighbors Lutali village, home to Japhfred Lucas Lukasile, 57. The two men had a long experience on the road and were familiar with each other's routes.
When the Nation visited the families, relatives of the two drivers were raising money to meet the post-mortem and funeral expenses. The families expressed shock and confusion over the accident, with Wanjala's aunt, Grace Isomi, saying, 'We expected the Modern Coast company management to stand with the families following the tragedy but that has not happened.'
Wanjala's mother, Julia Museve Mwasame, who is battling cancer, was particularly distraught over the loss of her son. 'He spoke to me on Wednesday and sent some money to settle the hospital bills. My son has been supporting me and the family a lot. I don’t know how long I will survive without him,' she said.
Meanwhile, the management of Modern Coast company met National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) officials to discuss the revocation of their operating licence. In a statement, the company said it has agreed to submit its buses for inspection and has made arrangements for its drivers to be trained afresh.
