By Kamundia Muriithi
A bus belonging to Lions Academy was set on fire by rowdy boda boda operators after an accident that occurred near Kenya Medical Training College, Embu campus.
The accident led to the death of a rider who was dropping a pupil at St Michael Primary School while the bus was on its way to pick pupils from residential areas.
Irked riders assaulted the driver, but he managed to escape before they set the school bus on fire.
Embu West Deputy County Commissioner Caroline Imaya said there were nine pupils in the bus at the time of the accident, but they were evacuated by the area assistant chief who rushed to the scene. She added that the riders overpowered the assistant chief and torched the bus.
Embu West Sub-county police commander Inviolata Imani said they are investigating the incident and called on the public to desist from taking law into their hands.
Kenyans at large condemned the action by the riders to set ablaze the bus. On various social media platforms, they pointed out that the riders should have given an opportunity to law enforcers to investigate the accident.
They decried the tendency by boda boda riders to gang up and unlawfully attack motorists after an accident.
The chairman of boda boda operators in Embu town Martin Muchira condemned the incident saying those who torched the bus are hooligans.
Witnesses said the motorbike and bus driver were both speeding.
Eric Mugambi, a boda boda operator, said there is a need to put speed bumps on the routes used by school buses and motorbikes.
Lions Academy is one of the best performing schools in Embu County. It has a fleet of modern buses that patronize Embu town and its suburb streets every morning and evening ferrying pupils.
