Vihiga County is mourning the tragic loss of three young footballers who died in a road accident on Sunday, October 6.
The accident happened on Jordan Bridge along the Kima-Esibuye Road when the boda boda they were riding collided with a truck, killing them instantly.
The chairman of the Boda Boda Association in Vihiga County, Francine Muchile, confirmed the unfortunate incident. He stated that the victims were well-known in the area and were young, talented footballers who had a bright future ahead of them.
“I received reports about the accident on Sunday afternoon and immediately rushed to the scene. It was a heartbreaking sight, seeing these young lives cut short so abruptly,” Muchile said.
The sudden loss has left the local community in mourning, with many expressing disbelief at the tragic news.
Their friends and family described them as dedicated young men who were passionate about their sport and had big dreams of making it to the professional football stage.
Although the exact cause of the accident is still unclear, it serves as a grim reminder of the dangers that boda boda riders and passengers face on Kenyan roads. The chairman, Muchile, emphasized the need for caution, especially as road accidents involving motorcycles have been on the rise in recent years.
“I urge all riders to be careful on the roads. We have lost too many lives due to speeding and reckless driving. It is painful to see young people with so much potential lose their lives like this,” he added.
Motorcycle accidents
Data from the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) shows that Kenya spends an estimated KSh46.1 billion in health care costs annually attributed to road traffic injuries, largely contributed by accidents involving motorcycles.
The data further shows that in the first week of July 2024 alone, 24 fatalities related to motorcycle transport were recorded.
“Motorcycles contributed to the most fatalities between 1st and 7th July 2024 with recorded 24 fatalities, followed by private (23), PSV (20), commercial (18), unknown (15) and government (1), while tricycle and pedal cycle had nil fatalities,” statistics from the NTSA shows.
