By Lydia Ngoolo
The St Joseph’s Seminary school bus which plunged into the swollen River Enziu in Mwingi East Sub-county, killing 32 has been retrieved.
The bus which had some bodies trapped in fastened safety belts was retrieved by Kenya Navy, National Youth Service emergency personnel and other well-wishers. The river has claimed many lives especially during the rainy seasons.
The bus plunged into the deadly seasonal river on Saturday when it lost control after the raging water swept it while nearing the end of the overflowing drift. It was ferrying Mwingi Catholic Church choir and family members who were heading to their grandparents wedding in Nuu area.
Mwingi East OCPD Joseph Yakan said it was not yet clear the number of the passengers who were on board in the ill-fated bus.
He called for drivers and members of the public to be more careful when crossing rivers. He said it is better to postpone a journey than risking lives.
Joyous Mutua, a survivor said they were heading to his grandparents wedding and that he lost 15 of his family members in the accident.
The dead were taken to Mwingi Level Four Hospital mortuary as the few survivors continue recuperating at the same facility.
The search for other bodies is still ongoing with locals calling upon government to finish the stalled bridge erected three years ago after a Toyota Probox with four passengers plunged in the same river. It took three weeks to retrieve the vehicle.
