Kisii Governor James Ongwae has said his government has started discussions with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) with a view of opening the Ogembo Bus Park for use to avert future accidents.
“Nema issued a restoration order barring the use of Ogembo Bus Park. We intend to complete the footbridge and engage the Kenya National Highways Authority (KenHA) to erect speed bumps while approaching Ogembo town,” he said.
He was addressing the press on Sunday evening after visiting causalities at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, who sustained injuries in two separate accidents that claimed three lives in total.
On Sunday morning, an accident occurred at Ogembo Town matatu stage where a grader ploughed into a stationary matatu, pushing it into a ditch.
Two people lost their lives durin the accident, while three others sustained serious injuries.
The injured were rushed to Gucha Level Four Hospital before being transferred to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital for further treatment. Two of them were treated and discharged while one is set to undergo surgery.
In a second accident, a saloon car ploughed into pedestrians and onlookers in the aftermath of the first accident, injuring four people who are still nursing injuries at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, where they are in stable condition according to the hospital’s medical superintendent Enock Ondari.
Another accident occurred in the afternoon on Sunday at Nduru involving a motorcycle (bodaboda), where one person died while undergoing treatment, with the other who sustained injury to the head set to undergo a CT scan to ascertain the extent of the injury.
Governor Ongwae and Kisii senator Chris Obure regretted the loss of lives in the accidents and called on drivers to exercise caution while using roads.
“We are here to express our deepest sympathies for the tragedies that occurred today. We have waived all costs of treatment including diagnostics like CT scan and X-rays. We have our ambulances on standby to cater for those who may need specialized care,” said Ongwae.
Obure expressed his deep condolences to the families of those who perished in the accident saying it was regrettable to lose lives needlessly.
“Today, I witnessed an accident where a boda boda operator carrying two passengers ploughed into pedestrians and the motorcycle appeared un-roadworthy. We need to exercise caution. I commend the medical staff for the attention given to the casualties,” said Obure.