A woman who survived the Kitui bus tragedy which claimed over 30 lives has opened up on how a facemask saved her life.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, December 7, Juliet Mutua said that she had forgotten her facemask and alighted to pick it but upon her return, the bus had already started moving.
Mutua was amongst several other guests who were heading to Nuu in Kitui County to attend her parents' wedding.
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“I survived the tragedy by God’s mercies. I was trying to cross the river with the rest of my family to go to my dad’s wedding but then I realised I had forgotten to pick masks from my bag," she said.
Mutua said that she attempted several times to shout at the driver to stop but the bus took off before she boarded.
Moments later, the bus was swept off by the water tides in the river leaving her helplessly watching her relatives drown.
“I witnessed my nieces, nephews, uncles, and aunties drown during the tragedy and it was sad that I was not in a position to help them,” she said.
Juliet said she was determined to dive in the river in a bid to rescue her relatives but locals stopped her.
“It was a very tough and traumatizing experience because I think most people were in disbelief that it happened when we were all watching,” she said.
