Bus hijackers kill 2 and hurt 20

Two people were killed and about 20 seriously injured after a bus was hijacked on Thika Superhighway on Thursday night.

The ‘Paradiso’ bus was driven to Muhoho in Kiganjo, Gatundu South Sub-County where the hijackers attacked the passengers and robbed them of money and mobile phones.

Following the hijack and the killing of the bus driver and a passenger, police and matatu crews yesterday fought running battles at Githurai 44 and Zimmerman.

Police said the driver, Mr Mbugua Njuguna 52, was stabbed to death. “The driver was stabbed in the chest and died in hospital,” said Gatundu police boss Benard Mulli.

A passenger, who is yet to be identified, died after being thrown out of the speeding bus. His body was badly disfigured after the bus and other vehicles run over him.

The bus conductor, Mr Simon Ngugi, said they picked up 53 passengers on Ronald Ngala Street and when they reached Roasters, they stopped to drop one.

“A man then took control of the bus and drove towards Thika, leaving me behind,” he said. He reported to police who gave chase.

The gang was armed with two pistols, swords and crowbars. They used the bars to hit passengers seriously injuring them. The robbers threw some of passengers out of the bus.

The victims were taken to Gatundu District Hospital. Police on patrol also spotted the bus and gave chase but slowed down after the gang threw a passenger out of the bus.

The bus sped away. Gatundu police learned of the hijack and mounted a road block but the gang diverted to Muhoho.

Meanwhile, in Mtito Andei, one person died on the spot and three others were seriously injured after a lorry rammed a tractor from behind.
The truck’s brakes failed, hit the tractor and killed the tractor driver on the spot.