A section of Kilifi leaders are demanding the arrest and prosecution of the contractor on the Mombasa-Malindi highway.
This is after an accident left 15 people and others critically injured on Wednesday morning. The head-on collision accident involved a Garissa-bound Muhsin Bus and Sabaki Sacco minibus at Kwa Mkikuyu in the Kizingo area, about 12km from Malindi town. Other casualties who needed critical care services were rushed to Mombasa.
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi confirmed that he lost six of his county workers in the accident. The staff routinely used the Sabaki minibus to commute to work. According to the leaders the stretch has been a deathtrap to motorists, especially during routine maintenance work.
Slow progress
The leaders blame the road contractor for taking too long to complete the section of the highway. The ongoing works narrowed the road and limited options for motorists seeking to manoeuvre.
“The stretch of the road where this accident occurred has been under construction and expansion for months, with no end in sight. The travellers confirmed dead and injured were members of staff in the Kilifi county government, who were travelling to work in Kilifi from Malindi town where they stay. We are urging the Kenya National Highway Authority to move with speed and ensure that motorists remain safe on that stretch as its personnel continue with the work to full completion,” said Governor Kingi.
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya called on the government to make public the primary cause of the accident, adding that the contractor should be prosecuted for murder if found culpable.
“It is sad to imagine that the accident was caused by the narrowing of the road. Deep excavations were done on both sides of the road by the contractor, who overstayed on the project making it challenging for motorists along the road,” said MP Baya.
