Seven killed, dozens injured after matatu plunges down slope in Makueni

Kibwezi, Makueni County, Kenya - Seven individuals lost their lives and dozens sustained injuries when a matatu carrying family members en route to a dowry ceremony veered off the road and plummeted down a steep slope near a river on Friday evening, according to reports from Kibwezi, Makueni County, Kenya. The vehicle, which had departed from Mbongoni in Kibwezi to travel to Kalembwani, was en route to Kalembwani for a traditional celebration when the tragedy unfolded just a few kilometers from their destination.

Witnesses recounted that the matatu was transporting approximately 50 passengers from Ivingoni Ward in Kibwezi, with a daughter being accompanied for the family celebration. As the vehicle approached a diversion, the group reportedly lost control and rolled multiple times, coming to rest on rocks near the river. Initial accounts suggested the driver lost control shortly after the diversion, leading to the crash due to the challenging terrain.

The Kenya Red Cross, along with county disaster management officials and police officers, swiftly launched a multi-agency rescue operation following the accident. The victims were reported to be heading to Kalembwani for the dowry ceremony when the mishap occurred. Eyewitnesses noted the cries of a child, which alerted residents to the crash scene, prompting a chaotic but coordinated effort to rescue survivors.

In the aftermath, casualties were evacuated to Makueni County Referral Hospital and Matiliku Sub-county Hospital for treatment. Among the injured, 28 were taken to Matiliku Sub-county Hospital, while 41 survivors received medical attention at Makueni County Referral Hospital. As of now, five individuals had been discharged from the latter facility.

Conflicting reports initially indicated a higher number of injuries and fatalities, reflecting the evolving nature of the rescue and hospitalization processes. The official cause of the crash remains under investigation, with preliminary reports pointing to the vehicle losing control on the steep and challenging stretch of road.