The unfortunate Pwani University bus reportedly traveled for around 2 kilometers before coming to a terrible stop in the Kayole region, according to survivors from the gory road accident that occurred in Naivasha on Thursday, March 30.
The pupils prayed for the best outcome throughout this period and started to find peace with whatever lay ahead.
One of the students who survived, Ian Okoth, claimed that it was obvious the bus’s brakes had failed and all they could do was buckle up as they watched the driver fight to maintain control of the vehicle.
“I’m thankful I made it through. I was unaware that it would be the final time I ever saw some of my coworkers. They had been really jovial just before the disaster,” he told the reporters.
Students and teachers in another bus who were traveling in the same general direction as them were startled when the unfortunate vehicle passed them at a fast rate of speed, prompting them to ask their friends what was going on.
“The only thing I can recall is watching the unfortunate bus’s driver overtake us at a high rate of speed while passing us on the wrong side. We started reaching out to our coworkers on the other bus while our driver slowed down due to the confusion of the situation, according to Dorothy Chemos.
“As we stopped, all that was visible in front of us was a crowd that had formed quickly. At that point, we noticed the other bus, which had some of our colleagues on board, laying in a ditch,” she added.
Destiny Dina, one of the students on the ill-fated bus had recorded herself inside the bus several times and posted the videos on Tiktok.
In the initial videos, her face showed excitement and hope, but towards the end, her facial expressions seemed to have made peace with destiny. Unfortunately she did not survive.
Her Titok account, which had about 100 followers grew to over 14,000 followers after the crash.
ccording to Pwani University Vice Chancellor Prof Rajab Mohamed, it is surprising that the bus’ brakes failed despite being new and having been serviced before the trip.
“It is important to clarify that we provide two drivers for all vehicles leaving for trips outside Kilifi County. These are seasoned drivers. The bus involved in the accident was a brand new bus, and we calibrated the speed governor in February.
“Unfortunately, the new bus was involved in the accident, and the old one was not. I cannot say how the vehicle developed braking problems, but it was a tragic accident and a very unfortunate incident,” he told Nation.
On Friday, the death toll rose to 18 after four people succumbed while receiving treatment.
