Six school children killed in hit-and-run accident on Kitui-Kibwezi road

In a tragic accident early Friday morning, six school-going children were killed at Wiitu shopping centre on the Kitui-Kibwezi road.

The victims, including three primary school pupils and three secondary school students, were hit by a Toyota Probox car while crossing the road.

According to National Police Service Spokesperson Resila Onyango, the accident occurred around 6:20 am as the children were heading to school.

The victims included five girls, three from Kyaoni Primary School and three from Kyaoni Secondary School.

Ikutha Deputy County Commissioner Vincent Lomachary confirmed that the vehicle involved was speeding at the time of the incident.

"The incident is indeed tragic," Lomachary said, emphasising the severity of the situation.

After hitting the children, the driver fled the scene but was later apprehended as police launched investigations into the accident.

Fatal accidents have been on the rise amid efforts to address the trend.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) reported a total of 7,114 road accidents as of August 27, 2024. This marks an increase from the 6,411 accidents recorded during the same period last year.

NTSA notes that the accidents have involved 15,651 individuals, resulting in 3,056 fatalities and 12,586 injuries, both minor and serious.

The increase in incidents has raised concerns about motorists' compliance with traffic regulations and the need for more effective road safety measures.

According to the NTSA report, pedestrians are the most frequent victims of traffic accidents.

Nairobi County recorded the highest number of pedestrian fatalities, with 251 deaths, making up 58 per cent of the county’s total fatalities. Kiambu followed with 205 pedestrian deaths.

Since the start of the year, 1,177 pedestrians, 262 drivers, 595 passengers, and 710 motorcyclists have died in traffic accidents. Additionally, 53 cyclists and 259 pillion passengers have lost their lives.

Poor road design, distracted behaviour, and crossing roads in non-designated areas are the main causes of pedestrian deaths.

The report also indicates that motorcycles were responsible for the highest number of fatalities at 1,157, followed by commercial vehicles (1,086) and private vehicles (1,078).