NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 15-Seven people were killed, and dozens injured after a matatu carrying family members to a dowry ceremony veered off the road and plunged down a steep slope in Kibwezi, Makueni County.

📻 Breaking It Down

The vehicle was transporting passengers from Mbongoni in Kibwezi towards Kalembwani when it lost control near a diversion and rolled several times, coming to rest on rocks near a river on Friday evening.

The victims were reportedly heading to Kalembwani for a traditional dowry ceremony when the journey turned tragic just a few kilometres from their destination.

A witness said the group was travelling with a daughter for the family celebration when the accident occurred.

📌 What You Need to Know

“There was a certain family celebration in this area. They were coming with their daughter and people from Mbongoni in Kibwezi. The accident occurred because the vehicle veered off the main road and went down about 400 metres until it landed on rocks. It injured around 30 people and killed seven.”

Another official said preliminary information from eyewitnesses indicated that the driver lost control shortly after a diversion.

“Unfortunately, a few metres from the diversion, the vehicle lost control according to information from eyewitnesses; it lost direction, and because the terrain is slopy, it plummeted down near the river.”

The crash triggered a multi-agency rescue operation involving the Kenya Red Cross, county disaster management officials and police officers.

The Kenya Red Cross said the matatu was carrying an estimated 50 passengers from Ivingoni Ward to Kyathi when it lost control and rolled several times at Kalembwani.

“Injured persons evacuated to Makueni County Referral Hospital. Scene clearance ongoing,” the Kenya Red Cross said in an initial update.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya