Three survivors of Nithi River accident have recounted what transpired before the ill-fated Modern Coast bus plunged into the river, claiming 35 people as of July 26.

The three out of ten survivors concurred that the bus had a mechanical problem and the driver had to engage a mechanic before departure.

Hassan Mukoko, a student at Meru National Polytechnique was travelling to Mombasa to meet his fiancée. According to Mukoko, he realised the accident had occurred when rescuers pulled him out of the river.

“I only noticed when I was being pulled out f the water…my legs are broken. I lost consciousness and now I am here at the hospital,” recounted Mukoko.

Another survivor, Johanas Ario recalled how the driver struggled with the ignition before departure and had to hire a mechanic to check the engine. According to Ario, the bus was booked to capacity by the time they were leaving Meru.

“It had a problem with ignition…the driver tried starting the engine but it failed.

“When a gear was being engaged, you could hear it rumble. He (driver) took first corner, second, third then the fourth is where he lost control of the bus,” recounted Ario.

On his part, Mushigali Kibele, also a student in Meru, “the driver was steering left and right then eventually flipped.”

The survivors’ accounts painted a grim picture since 2019 when a bus with similar registration number was spotted veering off the road putting the lives of many at risk.

Meru Governor, Kiraitu Murungi, announced that his government will cater for all the medical and funeral expenses of the Nithi bridge accident victims.

“My government will offer all the necessary support to the affected families. This would include support for the burial for those who have lost their lives and also medical treatment both at Chuka and Chogoria hospitals,” Kiraitu announced.

Chuka police base commander, Philip Ekakolo, blamed brake failure as the cause of the accident at the notorious Nithi bridge blackspot.

The accident happened on July 24, prompting the National Transport and Safety Authority – NTSA to suspend Modern Coast Bus operations to allow investigations.

The report by NTV done in 2018 indicated that 40 people lost their lives in the year 2,000 at the same spot. Two years before that, another 58 people also died, raising questions about the design and safety of the crucial bridge.