Police Commander Dies In Road Accident Weeks After Wedding
John Otieno Opiyo, the police commander of the Trans Nzoia Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU), perished in a road accident in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County.
According to a statement by Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya on Saturday, the commander was conducting his normal duties within his rural home when he met his untimely demise.
A source familiar with the situation told PoliticalPulseChat that Opiyo had just married his wife the week before the calamity.
The matatu was traveling in the direction of Sori from Ndhiwa, and upon reaching the accident site, the driver abruptly changed lanes and collided with the oncoming Toyota G-Touring.
The matatu driver veered to the right side of the road in the direction of Ndhiwa.
As a consequence of the tragedy, Opiyo died en route to the Ndhiwa Sub-County hospital from his injuries. Six injured individuals were rushed to the aforementioned facility for treatment.
The Matatu driver was rushed to the Sori Lakeside hospital where he was confined in critical condition. Both vehicles were towed to the station yard and detained pending an inspection because of extensive damage. The deceased’s corpse was transported to the Kirindo Hospital Mortuary for an autopsy.
Natembeya stated in a statement that Opiyo’s departure left a void in the police department due to his invaluable contributions to the security industry.
“His sudden departure leaves a deep void and we shall greatly miss his invaluable contributions to the security sector in Trans Nzoia County. He was a dependable, hardworking, and dedicated officer known for his unmatched wit and skills,” he eulogized
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“To the family, friends, and colleagues of Opiyo, I extend my heartfelt condolences. During this period of bereavement, may you find the fortitude and strength to cope with this profound loss.”
The case illustrates the perilous predicament motorists face on Kenyan roads. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022 (KDHS) conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) ranked Murang’a as the county with the most dangerous roads, with 365 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants.
Kisumu, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Vihiga followed with respective totals of 307, 264, 261, and 247.
Nairobi rounded out the top six list with 238 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants. Kiambu (227), Laikipia (212), Homa Bay (208), and Isiolo (200) were other counties with a significant number of fatalities.
According to the data, urban areas had the maximum number of traffic-related fatalities with 190, compared to rural areas with 107.
In response to the increase in incidents, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) launched a campaign to exhort motorists to obey traffic laws.
The emphasis of the campaign was on highlighting common driving errors, such as speeding, lane infractions, intoxicated driving, and distracted driving.
Others include not wearing protective gear like a helmet and not using available pedestrian walkways.
Police Commander Dies In Road Accident Weeks After Wedding