The truck driver involved in the Londiani accident, which killed at least 50 people, has spoken out for the first time, detailing what happened on that fateful day.
The driver, who is being treated at Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital, stated that the accident was caused by a brake failure, which caused the truck to lose control.
“I departed from Simba Cement Factory in Salgaa heading towards Uganda through Busia and lost control of my truck due to brake failure. I was with my co-driver and I don’t know whether he has been admitted,” he said.
Gilbert Ntuyemungu, who had been unconscious for two days, told the reporters on Monday from his hospital bed that he had been travelling the Nakuru-Kericho route since 1997.
Ntuyemungu said that at the time of the accident, he was travelling to Busia.
“Upon arriving at the junction heading towards Malaba, I lost control of the vehicle because the brakes could not function and I panicked.”
He claims that the truck was transporting a large load of cement bags to Uganda via the Busia border.
“All I remember is I tried to reach for the breaks to slow down the speeding truck but they failed. I could hear screams but the truck was still moving… I regained consciousness yesterday ( Sunday),” he said.
Victims injured in the accident were also admitted to the same hospital, where the doctor who was treating them made a statement about the victims’ condition.
“Among these were three females and six males, the three females have suffered mostly fractures of the lower limbs, among the six males there were two who had head injuries and then the other four have suffered mainly head injuries and lower limb injuries and abdominal pains,” the doctor said.
“The three females have undergone surgery and they are stable though they are not yet discharged. Among the six males, one of them succumbed,” he added.
