Nairobi — Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced plans to relocate roadside markets following an accident that left at least 50 people dead in Kericho.
In one of the deadliest accidents in Kenya for several years, a truck veered out of control and ploughed into several other vehicles and people at a busy road junction on Friday evening killing at least 50 people.
Most of those killed were traders, their customers as well as boda boda riders who had parked on the roadside.
"We are ready as a ministry to provide access roads to the markets, entry and exit routes to the market so that people driving in to buy the produce can go in and avoid such catastrophes," he said," Murkomen said when he visited the accident scene on Saturday morning.
He said the government will also make it mandatory for drivers to undergo refresher courses.
"Some drivers were hesitant on taking the refresher courses but following this accident that killed so many people, the government has decided to make it mandatory to take a refresher training," he said.
Police resumed the search for more bodies from the accident scene Saturday even as locals said they had seen two bodies in the wreckage.
"The search has resumed and we want to remove two of the bodies in the wreckage, we don't know if they are more," Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan said.
He said more than 30 people were also injured when the truck hit cars, minibuses, boda bodas (motorcycle taxis) and market stalls at the teeming Londiani junction.
The fate of the truck driver was not immediately clear.
President William Ruto expressed condolences after the accident and Londiani was trending on social media, with many people posting pictures of a candle next to the word Londiani on Twitter.
"The accident happened in a flash, many of them had no time to escape," said one witness, Joel Rotich.
"There was a lot of confusion because people were screaming all over and everyone was running after the accident."
According to figures from Kenya's National Transport and Safety Authority, at least 21,760 people were involved in road accidents last year, including 4,690 who died.
In a speech in December, Murkomen blamed human error for much of the carnage on the roads, including drunk or reckless driving, speeding and dangerous overtaking.
