Kenya bus crash kills at least 50
Nairobi, Kenya - At least 50 people were killed when the bus they were travelling in overturned and its entire roof was ripped off in an accident in western Kenya early on Wednesday, police said.
The bus was travelling from Nairobi to the western town of Kakamega, police said, and footage from the scene showed the vehicle lying on its side with the seats and mangled bits of metal exposed to the air.
The faded red bus was later righted. The torn-off roof could be seen lying at a distance.
“It is unfortunate that we have lost 51 people,” Kenya’s police chief Joseph Boinnet told Capital FM radio.
However James Mugera, the Kericho County Police Commander, said there were 50 fatalities, “Those who perished include 31 men, 12 women and seven children. There are about ten others who have been rushed to various hospitals with serious injuries.”
Officers said the bus had a ca- pacity of 52 passengers.
The bus was reportedly descending a steep hill when it hit a guard rail before plunging down a few metres.
President Uhuru Kenyatta called for an investigation into the tragedy.
‘My heartfelt condolences to the families of fellow Kenyans who lost their lives in a tragic road accident at Fort Ternan in Kericho County this morning and wish those in hospital quick recovery’, he wrote on Twitter.
‘I would like to remind drivers to always exercise caution to avoid such catastrophic incidents’.