Beatrice Wakothie, the wife of the driver of the ill-fated Modern Coast bus, has Monday revealed that her husband had consistently complained of the failing breaks of the bus.
In addition, she narrated that her husband, Paul Muruthi alias Simba, had in the recent past complained of the bad state the bus was in saying that it was poorly maintained.
“He was a perennial visitor at the garage whenever he concluded his trips, he always complained the breaks were failing,” said mama Mercy.
Speaking to the media, the widow also decried frustrations from Modern Coast Company saying her efforts to seek help from the company were unfruitful.
“The number they gave us to reach the transport manager goes unanswered, we came to their offices but we have not also received any assistance,” she added.
Wakothie also decried pay arrears Modern Coast owed her husband since February 2022.
At least 33 people have now been confirmed dead from the bus accident that occurred Sunday evening at Nithi Bridge in Tharaka Nithi County.
Area County Commissioner Nobert Komora confirmed Monday morning that six more bodies were retrieved from the wreckage Monday morning.
The accident happened some minutes before 7 pm Sunday when 24 passengers travelling on the ill-fated bus were immediately confirmed to have lost their lives.
The bus was travelling from Maua in Meru and headed for Mombasa when it fell into the river that is 40 meters below. The area is marked as a black spot.
Preliminary investigations indicate the bus belonging to Modern Coast developed brake failure and the driver could not negotiate the sharp corner at the bridge.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has since halted the operations of all Modern Coast buses.
The suspension will apply to 31 buses belonging to the company operating several routes within the country.
The routes affected include; Nairobi-Mombasa, Mombasa-Mtwapa-Kilifi-Malindi-Witu-Mpeketoni to Lamu as well as Nairobi-Nakuru-Kisumu-Kakamega-Busia.
Other routes include; Nairobi-Nakuru-Kisumu-Eldoret-Malaba, Nairobi-Narok-Kisii-Homabay-Migori-Isibania, Mombasa-Makindu-Wote-Kitui-Machakos and Nairobi-Thika-Embu-Meru-Maua.
