A bus driver has been charged with 12 offences, including two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, following a fatal road accident that claimed the lives of two Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) students in Awasi, Kisumu County.
The accused, Jotham Murumba Wanjala, appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Evelyn Makungu Onzere at the Nyando Law Courts, where he denied all the charges brought against him.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) brought two counts of causing death by dangerous driving in connection with the deaths of passengers Evance Odiwour Otieno and Rooney Owek Gakumba.
The charges were filed under Section 46 of the Traffic Act, Cap. 403 of the Laws of Kenya, which addresses causing death by dangerous driving.
Wanjala also faces 10 additional counts of driving without due care and attention, contrary to Section 49(1) of the Traffic Act. The charges relate to injuries sustained by 10 passengers during the accident.
According to the prosecution, the driver allegedly drove the bus at a speed and in a manner that endangered members of the public before losing control of the vehicle. The bus subsequently veered off the road, resulting in the fatal crash and injuries to other passengers.
The prosecution was led by Principal Prosecution Counsel Douglas Moseti, who presented the charges before the court.
The accident occurred on August 7, 2026, in the Boya area along the Ahero–Awasi Highway in Nyando Sub-County, Kisumu County. The incident claimed the lives of the two university students and left 10 other passengers injured.
Following his appearance in court, Wanjala was granted a bond of KSh500,000, with no alternative cash bail option provided.
The court scheduled the matter for mention on November 5, 2026, when the case is expected to come up for further directions.
The charges mark the commencement of court proceedings over the crash, with the accused having pleaded not guilty. The allegations against him will be determined through the judicial process.
The case has brought renewed attention to road safety and the responsibility of drivers to exercise due care while transporting passengers, particularly on busy highways where loss of vehicle control can have fatal consequences.
