A few days after the fort-Ternan accident that claimed the lives of 58 Kenyans, Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has decided to further venture into the matter, in order to hold to account all that were reckless hence loss of lives.
According to a statement shared on the office of the DPP’s official profiles, the most feared man in Kenya confirmed that he had ordered investigations into the insurer of the killer bus and the bodybuilder. According to the statement, the DPP also seeks to ascertain whether those that built the bus did it according to the required specifications.
The owner of the bus, while appearing in court, denied operating the killer without a night travel licence contrary to section 11(1) of the NTSA Act of 2013 and a speed governor. He was arraigned after the bus rolled several times, killing 58 people, and maiming 15 others. The accident happened at Fort Ternan one month ago.
Kenyans were shocked to learn that the owner of the bus Mr Bernard Isindu Shitiabayi had employed a 73-year-old driver who together with the conductor were not registered as per the law.
Mr Cleophas Shimanyula, an agent of the Sacco to which the bus was affiliated, is accused of failing to register the names of the driver and conductor as required by law.
After the accident, we saw many knee-jerk reactions and roadside declarations including the re-introduction of Michuki laws to please Kenyans who had started complaining and demanding that the CS Transport James Macharia takes personal responsibility.
The notice that was circulating on social media, to scare-monger said that public service vehicles (PSVs) will have to be fitted with speed governors and safety belts, and painted with a yellow line. Similarly, all PSV drivers and conductors will be required to wear uniforms and badges and prominently display their photos in the vehicles.
The matatu operators were given up to November 12 to comply with the rules. As we all know, this is just temporary noise before everything is reverted to factory settings as was before.
