The government has announced plans to offset medical bills for all the victims of the Thursday evening Kenya Pipeline Company bus collision with the Kenya Railways Cargo train in Naivasha, which left nine dead and others nursing injuries.
According to Petroleum PS Mohammed Liban, the government will offer all the needed support to the affected families including offsetting all medical bills and burial preparations for the deceased.
Laiban who condoled with the survivors who were still hospitalised at the Naivasha branch of Nairobi Women’s Hospital Friday afternoon said the company had contacted the families of those affected.
The PS said currently 19 persons are still recuperating at various hospitals including 14 at Nairobi Women Hospital, two at the Sub-County facility while three others were evacuated to Aga Khan and Kijabe hospitals.
“The tragic and unfortunate accident saw nine staff of KPC killed including six men and three women as well as over 20 injured and the government will support them fully,” said Liban.
Liban lauded a coordinated team that led the medical evacuation of those affected adding that all staff will undergo therapy and psycho-social support to overcome the sudden news.
The PS however decried increased road carnage in the country that currently stands at 34 per cent nationwide, urging all road users to exercise caution.
On his part, National Pipeline Company MD Joe Sang’ reiterated the company’s full support to those affected including offsetting medical bills and burial arrangements.
Sang’ was quick to note that all survivors recuperating at various facilities are in stable condition and will be discharged in days.
The MD said the workers were en route to Naivasha town in the 32 seater company vehicle after their morning shift at the company’s Morendat plant, when the collision with the cargo train happened.
He added that in coordination with Kenya Railways, they have launched investigations to ascertain the cause of the accident and put measures to deter future tragedies.
One of the survivors, Sammy Kirop who is admitted at the Nairobi Women’s hospital Naivasha branch said he suffered from back injuries but is recuperating well.
Dennis Wahome, another survivor said the tragedy happened in seconds after the train failed to issue prompt signals ramming into the 32-seater bus.
“The driver did not see the incoming cargo train owing to poor weather resulting in reduced visibility, and the train failed to signal leading to the collision,” said Wahome.
On Friday morning, grief and sorrow filled the air as families and relatives of the deceased camped at the Naivasha Sub-County morgue to identify the bodies of the nine casual workers.
According to Naivasha County faculty morgue records, those who perished during the fatal accident are Gerald Motieri, Stephen Akello, Jennifer Cherotich, Cheroni Koech, Samuel Mburu and Dennis Wanjala.
Others are Daniel Mulei, Agnes Awinja and Leakeyoboyo Okinda and who were all casual labourers at the Naivasha-based oil and gas facility.
According to Teresia Motieri, the wife of Gerald Motieri, a 25-year-old victim, the devastating death has left her and her family in deep sorrow.
She said her husband had worked at the facility for three years and had left a nine-month-old child at their Gilgil home.
On his part, Josphat Lukut who lost his daughter Agnes Awinja received phone calls from the company notifying him of the fatal accident that has affected the facility workers.
Lukut said he later learned that her daughter had died on the spot adding that the family which hails from Butere in the Western region were still in sudden shock.
Lukut requested the company to support the family in moving the body closer home owing to the financial constraints at the moment.
Lilian Auma, who lost her cousin said the family is still processing the sad news adding that the victim left a wife and young child.
Auma who joined other family members at the Naivasha hospital morgue urged the government to intervene following increased cases of accidents across the country.
Isaac Kosgei who lost a close relative said they positively identified the body at the morgue and were planning to transfer it home after the postmortem analysis is completed.
By Erastus Gichohi and Sein Makanda
