By Martin Masai
Two more have died in the Katangi Matatu tragedy,bring the number to 11.
Hospital sources say the two are adult males who were admitted to Ward 5 of Machakos Level five hospital soon after the accident early this week.
Names of the latest victims could not be made public till next of kin are informed. This comes as most of the victims of the Katangi matatu accident have been identified.
They include a 54 year old South East Kenya University lecturer Dr Redempta Mukui Kyalo, who boarded the ill fated death trap christed ' By Faith' at Kwa Vonza. Others are Jacinta Kanini Musangi (18), Esther Mwikali Kyalo (50), Dickson Nzuki Kisovi (48), and Richard Kiema Susa (39).
A police signal said yesterday that two male adults still remain unidentified. Their bodies are lying at the Kitui Level 4 hospital mortuary.
According to police tally, the ill fated matatu, with a passenger capacity of 42, had at least 46 people on board. It originated its trip to Nairobi, plying via Machakos, from Mbitini market in Kitui Central.
The number may well hit 50 given that some may have escaped without injuries and may not have gone to hospital and remain undocumented.
Official police figures provided by Mwala Traffic Sub Base in Machakos County shows 37 passengers are undergoing treatment in Machakos Level five hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital and 9 fatal cases. Mysteriously, all the dead including the driver Mr Musyoka Mulaki-who was pronounced dead on arrival at Machakos Level five hospital were taken for preservation at the Kitui Level 4 hospital mortuary.
Though police did not explain their action, it is believed that they took the victims to Kitui due to the controversial dysfunctional status of Machakos mortuary that is mostly unable to accommodate the dead.The Anchor will establish if the bodies of the latest victims will be taken to Kitui.
By the time of going to press, no one has been prosecuted over the accident, notwithstanding the fact that NTSA officials confirmed that its Speed Governor had been tempered with. Neither had its sacco- Umoa Sacco- been sanctioned. This is even as Machakos County Commander quipped that there were no traffic police officers on the Machakos section of the road when the accident happened.
The police signal did not mention that the matatu had 30 (70 Kg) bags of charcoal strapped on its roof carrier, undermining the vehicle's stability.
Police named the following as victims of the accident.
A 10 month old child Monica Ngeni is among the dead. Those injured are; Jeremiah James ,18, James Kitonga, Daniel Kinyamasio, Kenedy Kase, 24,
Paul Musyoka, 35 Yrs, Jane Mueni Mbuvi, 40, Doreen Mulwa, 31, Patience Ndulu, 3,
Gift Muinde 9, Abednego Musembi, 52 year old
Mutinda Nthenge, Kula Mulwa, 24, Aron James,10, Isaac Maundu 28,
Tito Katua,50,Mulinge Mulwa 40,
Kitheka Kalungu, 44, James Katuu, 52, Gilbert Kamala,
Winfred Kenyatta, 22,Malonza Peter,32, Titus Mwania 54, Mulyugi Masiwa,28,Joseph Kanya, 32, and Queen Mutunga, 19.
