DP Rigathi Gachagua will attend a special memorial prayer service for the victims of the tragic accident at Londiani Junction.
The service, which will be held on July 4, 2023, at Londiani grounds, will bring together the local community, clergy, and various guests including governors, senators, Members of Parliament, and senior government officials.
Ms. Florence Bore, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, announced the memorial prayer service at the Kericho County Government headquarters.
She mentioned that a fundraiser would be held after the service to support the families of the victims.
Bore expressed condolences for the lives lost in the Londiani accident and emphasized the importance of coming together as a county and as a national government to provide a proper send-off for the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery.
Bore also stated that the government, through different ministries, would contribute to the cause. The Ministry of Health had already donated medicine supplies to hospitals in Kericho and Londiani.
In preparation for the prayer ceremony, Bore, together with Kericho Governor Dr. Eric Mutai, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Kericho Members of Parliament, and Members of the County Assembly, held a consultative meeting. They also inspected the grounds where the memorial would take place.
Governor Mutai assured that the county government would cover the hospital and mortuary bills for the victims. He acknowledged that the majority of the affected individuals were ordinary workers, and the government wanted to support them by waiving all bills.
Mutai also praised traders at Kapkelek Centre who had already relocated from conducting business along the roadside to a designated marketplace that offered greater safety. He promised to construct a market for traders at Londiani junction.
The Kenya Red Cross Society Kericho Branch Coordinator reported that family contact tracing was ongoing at Londiani hospital. So far, 49 deceased persons had been positively identified by their family members. Additionally, 56 individuals were reported missing in hospitals and the Londiani Hospital Mortuary.
The accident at Londiani junction occurred on Friday evening and involved a trailer registered in Rwanda. It resulted in the tragic death of 52 people and left 32 others injured.
Transport and Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen visited the accident scene and issued directives. He ordered the relocation of all markets along road reserves and instructed the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to construct access roads to these markets.
Murkomen also directed relevant agencies to revise speed limits in the area, install bumps and signages, and include the dangerous section as a location for speed detection cameras. These measures would support the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations.
Furthermore, Murkomen called for immediate road safety education and awareness programs by County Transport Safety Committees in all 47 counties, targeting traders, pedestrians, school children, and boda-boda operators.
The Ministry of Transport would also hold consultative meetings with the East Africa Community to guide the harmonization of motor vehicle inspections in the region. Murkomen urged all motorists to prioritize safety on the roads for their own sake and that of others.
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