Protest in Kwale after matatu driver is killed in accident

Residents blocked the Mombasa-Lunga Lunga road on Friday after one person died and six others were injured in an accident involving two matatus and a truck.

The residents lit bonfires and barricaded the road with stones to protest frequent crashes on the road.

The crash occurred at Bixa in Tiwi on Friday morning.

ODM politicians were caught up in the protests and had a hard time calming the residents.

The politicians were heading to Kwale town for a meeting with their party leader Raila Odinga.

The opposition leader is expected to open an ODM office in the town and later address a public rally at Baraza Park.

Among those affected by the protest were Kilifi Woman Representative Aisha Jumwa and her Mombasa counterpart Mishi Mboko, who tried unsuccessfully to cool down the angry residents.

Abdul Bwika, a resident, said at least two to three accidents occur on the road every month.

"We are tired of losing our people (to accidents) every day," he said.

Matuga OCPD Patrick Oduma said the two matatus were heading to Ukunda while the truck was moving in the opposite direction towards Mombasa.

He confirmed that the driver of one of the matatus died on the spot.

Kenneth Sang, the officer in charge at Tiwi Health Centre said eight victims were taken there for treatment and two were later discharged.

The other six were transferred to Msambweni and Palm Beach hospitals in Diani.