Tuju crash: How accident that left 18 injured happened

By , K24 Digital
On Wed, 12 Feb, 2020 12:48 | 2 mins read
All patients, except the matatu driver who was placed on life support, are responding well to treatment, doctors say. [PHOTO | K24 DIGITAL]
All patients, except the matatu driver who was placed on life support, are responding well to treatment, doctors say. [PHOTO | K24 DIGITAL]
All patients, except the matatu driver who was placed on life support, are responding well to treatment, doctors say. [PHOTO | K24 DIGITAL]

Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju’s car was on the correct lane, when it was hit head-on by a Nairobi-bound matatu that had veered off its lane, a report filed at Lari Police Station in Kiambu has revealed.

The accident occurred at Magina area at 6:45am Wednesday after the matatu belonging to Nuclear Sacco tried to avoid smashing against a Toyota Allion, which was ahead.

Though it partially rammed the saloon car of registration plate KCA235W, the matatu of registration plate KCH 051J swerved towards its left and was on the oncoming lane, which had Tuju’s car, a Toyota Prado of registration plate KCH504T. A resultant head-on-collision occurred leaving six victims, including Tuju, nursing serious injuries.

Police say the Toyota Allion had slowed down to allow a car that was ahead of it to branch to a feeder road on the right, when the matatu, which was behind the Toyota Allion, partially rammed the saloon car before hurtling onto the oncoming lane.

The six, who were gravely injured in the accident include: 60-year-old Raphael Tuju, a Cabinet minister, who sustained head and abdominal injuries; 46-year-old Tuju’s bodyguard, Charles Oyaro, who sustained hand fractures; the CS’s driver, Austin Oindo, 33, sustained leg fractures; the matatu driver Bernard Kariuki was found unconscious; two passengers – Adiella Nalusu and Jane Muthoni – had chest injuries.

Twelve other passengers suffered minor injuries following the accident. They include: Simon Wachira, Daniel Wainaina, John Mbaraga, Mercy Wambui, Solomon Kiboi, Isaack Njuguna, David Kekunte, Francis Thiong’o, Joseph Njau, Samuel Mwangi, Regina Nyambura and Paul Kiarie.

All the accident victims were taken to Kijabe Mission Hospital for emergency treatment.

All patients, except the matatu driver who was placed on life support, are responding well to treatment, doctors say.

At around 9:30am, Raphael Tuju’s immediate family and close relatives were transported using a police helicopter to Kijabe Mission Hospital from the Wilson Airport after news broke that the CS had been involved in the crash at Magina.

Doctors advised that the CS, who was to be airlifted to the capital city for admission at the Nairobi Hospital, was not stable enough to be transferred.

Tuju was heading to Kabarak in Nakuru County for retired president Daniel Moi’s burial, when the accident happened.