Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah in court.IMAGE|ACOURTESY
In Summary:
- Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah narrowly escapes a serious accident in Kisumu when a trailer crashes into his vehicle. Despite the collision, Omtatah and his driver remain unharmed. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah was involved in a frightening accident in Kisumu on Friday while en route to Busia. The incident occurred near the Ojola area when a trailer lost control and collided with his vehicle, sending it off the road.
Omtatah recounted the ordeal to a local media outlet, explaining that the trailer struck his vehicle as he tried to maneuver out of the way. Fortunately, both Omtatah and his driver emerged from the crash uninjured. The trailer, however, ended up in a nearby ditch.
A photograph provided shows the front section of Okiya Omtatah’s vehicle following a collision with a trailer on Friday, February 16, 2024.IMAGE | HANDOUT
Attempts to reach Omtatah for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. Describing the harrowing experience, the Senator revealed that he narrowly avoided a fatal outcome by swiftly reacting to the trailer’s loss of control.
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He credited the seatbelt for keeping him secure during the crash, although the vehicle itself sustained damage. The trailer driver claimed that brake failure caused him to veer off the main road, resulting in the collision with Omtatah’s vehicle.
Authorities from Maseno Police Station responded to the scene and initiated an investigation into the accident. Omtatah later confirmed that he was able to return home with the assistance of police officers, who provided him with a land cruiser.
Meanwhile, a report from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) highlighted the dangers of traveling on Kenyan roads, particularly between 7-9 pm.
During this period, 1,100 fatalities were recorded, with pedestrians accounting for the highest number of deaths (216) between January 1 and February 11, 2024.