Tag: Machakos County news

 Several passengers are feared dead and dozens of others have sustained critical injuries following a horrific multi-vehicle accident involving a long-distance bus along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. The catastrophic pile-up occurred on Monday night in the high-accident zone between the Machakos Junction and the Kathumani Junction.

Preliminary emergency reports indicate that the late-night crash involved a 50-seater bus operated by Tahmeed Coach Limited and at least five other vehicles, including commercial trucks and private cars. While traffic police have yet to establish the precise mechanical or human cause of the multi-vehicle collision, traumatized witnesses at the scene reported that the impact was deafening, leaving the highway littered with shattered glass and twisted metal.

Distressing footage and photographs circulating across social media platforms overnight showed the prominent Tahmeed bus overturned on its side, having sustained extensive structural damage. Surrounding vehicles involved in the chain-reaction collision appeared completely mangled, trapping occupants inside the crushed frames. Good Samaritans and first responders from nearby trading centers rushed to the site under darkness, working frantically to pull bloodied survivors from the wreckage before specialized emergency teams arrived.

“The scene was absolutely devastating. The bus was completely on its side, and we could hear people screaming for help from inside the wreckage. From what we saw as we helped the rescue teams, at least six people appeared to have lost their lives on the spot,” a witness on the scene recounted.

The National Police Service and regional administrative authorities have yet to issue a definitive statement regarding the exact number of fatalities, the status of the injured, or the identities of the victims.

The gruesome accident triggered an immediate, night-long traffic paralysis along the primary transport artery connecting Nairobi to the coastal region. Snarl-ups stretched for several kilometers in both directions, leaving hundreds of cargo trucks and transit buses gridlocked for hours as heavy machinery was deployed to haul the wreckage off the tarmac. Traffic police officers spent the better part of Tuesday morning directing vehicles and clearing the road to restore normal traffic flow before launching an official forensic investigation.

This latest highway tragedy unfolds amid heightened national panic and growing public outcry over a sharp spike in fatal road accidents across Kenya. The Mombasa Road disaster occurred just three days after another grisly collision claimed six lives and left five others fighting for survival at Kamara near Mau Summit along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway.

In that Friday night incident, a 14-seater public service matatu collided head-on with an oncoming heavy-duty trailer. Confirming the previous tragedy, Kuresoi North Sub-County Police Commander John Kimutai stated that preliminary findings pointed to the trailer veering dangerously out of its designated lane before crushing the oncoming passenger van. The back-to-back transit disasters have put renewed pressure on the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to enforce stricter nighttime speed controls and crack down on reckless driving across major national corridors.

A 52-year-old passenger died in a matatu on the Machakos-Koka route.

According to police, Peter Kioko Wambua was found unresponsive when the matatu conductor tried to wake him up to inform him that he had reached his destination.

Wambua had boarded the matatu in Machakos town, heading to his rural home in Kamuani on the evening of Saturday, May 26. He had told the conductor to alert him when they arrived at Kamuani and paid his fare.

An hour later, as the matatu arrived at the destination, the conductor called out for passengers to alight. Noticing that Wambua was still asleep, the conductor went to wake him but found him unresponsive. Another passenger assisted in trying to wake him, only to discover that he was dead.

Police arrived at the scene and found Wambua’s body lying by the roadside. His family was contacted and identified him at the scene. Wambua, who resided in Nairobi, had contacted his mother that morning requesting fare to come home as he was feeling unwell. The cause of his ailment was unclear.

Police found two sachets of medicine in his shirt pocket. His body, which showed no visible injuries, was taken to Machakos Level Five Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.

In a separate incident, police acting on a tip-off arrested a suspect in Karantina Village, Marsabit, who was found with nine rounds of live ammunition. The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Galgalo Abdub, is under investigation for illegal possession of the bullets.

Additionally, a police officer was arrested in connection with a shooting and robbery incident in Mbale, Vihiga County. The officer, a constable from Nyawara Police Post in Siaya County, was apprehended on Sunday following the incident reported on April 14, 2024. Police indicated that investigations into other cases involving the arrested officer are ongoing.

A 37-year-old man has been apprehended for allegedly raping a young woman in Mwala, Machakos County.

The suspect, aged 37, was apprehended from his hideout within Wamunyu Township in the Mwala sub-county on Friday.

Nancy Jerobon, the Mwala sub-county police commander, stated that the suspect was captured at the Wamunyu trading center following a tip-off from members of the community policing group.

The suspect had reportedly gone into hiding immediately after allegedly committing the crime.

The arrest followed a report lodged at the Wamunyu police patrol base by a woman who asserted that her 16-year-old daughter had been defiled by the suspect. She filed the report on February 26 at 9:36 pm.

Jerobon mentioned that according to the complainant, a resident of Mbaikini village, her daughter was assaulted by the suspect at Muundani village while returning home from Wamunyu market. He coerced her into a nearby bush and assaulted her.

The victim was subsequently admitted to Wamunyu Level 3 Hospital, where she received treatment and was later discharged in fair condition.

“Further investigations revealed that the victim, born in 2005 according to her birth certificate, was already above 18 years. Efforts to locate the suspect were initiated, leading to his arrest,”

The vibrant community of Machakos University was rocked by tragedy on Tuesday, when a female student was found dead at her boyfriend’s rented house in Katoloni estate. Identified as a Bachelor of Education student, the young woman’s life was cut short under unexplained circumstances.

Police confirmed the discovery, with Machakos subcounty police commander Emmanuel Okanda detailing the grim scene. He described the deceased’s hands bound with shoelaces and blood evident near her ears and nose. Initial investigations suggest the murder occurred on Monday night.

Adding to the already heartbreaking situation, the boyfriend himself is among the two suspects in custody. While motives remain shrouded in mystery, the investigation promises to shed light on the cause of death, including whether the victim sustained other injuries or was struck with blunt objects.

Okanda’s statement issued a poignant plea to students, urging them to prioritize their education and steer clear of crime and substance abuse. He also implored the community to exercise restraint and avoid vigilante justice, seeking instead guidance from counselors and trusted figures.

This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cherishing life and promoting safety within university communities. As the investigation unfolds, the Machakos University community awaits answers and grapples with the loss of a vital member.