Three family members killed in road accident

• Two other people, including their driver, die as the vehicle collides with a matatu

Five people, including three members of one family, died on Monday when a private vehicle collided with a matatu at Moredat on the Naivasha-Nairobi highway.

Naivasha police chief Ernest Oponyo said the three family members were a man, his wife and their 26-year-old son.

They were travelling to Nairobi.

Also killed was their driver and a matatu passenger.

He said several other people were injured and were treated at various private local hospitals.

Mr Oponyo said the accident happened when the matatu driver attempted to overtake a long line of vehicles.

There was a massive traffic snarl-up on the busy highway.

A few hours earlier, more than 60 flower farm workers were injured when their company bus was involved in an accident at the Sanctuary area in Naivasha.

The workers were being driven to the company’s Flamingo farm at around 6.00 am.

Witness Charles Wanyiri said the bus driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and plunged in a ditch.

“I suspect the steering mechanism failed,” said Mr Wanyiri.

A victim of the morning accident, Mr Charles Mayaka, said he did not know what happened and only found himself in hospital.

Driver not speeding

“The vehicle suddenly went out of control although the driver was not speeding,” he said.

The medical superintendent at the Naivasha District Hospital, Dr Joseph Mburu, said at least 40 people were treated and discharged.

“Two others were taken to the theatre while three were initially admitted to the hospital but were later taken to a company facility,” Dr Mburu said.