Matatu crew turn to prayers over accidents

They are known to be arrogant and are blamed for anything that goes wrong in the public transport industry.

When a wave of road accidents in which several people died hit the country recently, they took the flak.

And some matatu operators now agree that only divine intervention can save the sector.

On Thursday, more than 100 matatu drivers and conductors held prayers in Meru to exorcise the ghosts that have been behind numerous accidents in the area.

The drivers say they cannot not explain why there were so many accidents there. (READ: Riders blamed for accidents surge)

“All of a sudden, we have started experiencing accidents that are not normal. My biggest responsibility currently is attending burials.

“Today we are burying this person tomorrow we bury another. All is not well,” says Mr Kenneth Micheni, an official of Meru Nissan Sacco.

He was among those who attended prayers led by church leaders in the area.

Mr Micheni tells of the agony of receiving bad news every time his phone rings, saying he always prepares for the worst.

He says he has tried to developed a thick skin to absorb the many calls informing him of accidents and realised only God can help.

The matatu operators and owners feel that the wave of accidents and other calamities require divine intervention.

About 50 people have died in road accidents recently between Nkubu and Chuka towns — a smooth stretch of about 30km infamous for luring drivers to their death.

Three accidents alone have claimed close to 30 lives in the area. In the first accident, 10 people died when the matatu they were travelling in rolled several times at Mitheru area.(READ: 10 killed as bus veers off road and crashes)

A second one killed eight passengers at Kwa Muguna area near Kanyakine. A fortnight ago, 10 passengers were killed after the matatu they were travelling in plunged into Maara River.

Mr Micheni, who is the director in charge of operations in the sacco, says the number of black spots in the area have increased.

“Nithi bridge and Subuiga hill were the only known black spots and when prayers were held at Nithi Bridge the number of accidents reduced.

What we are doing here is not in vain,” says Mr Micheni.

Scary experience