Uproar After Lorry Loaded With People Is Swept Away By Flood Waters: "We Do This Every Year"

• At least 10 people have been swept away by flood waters after they tried crossing a swollen River Kwa Muswii waters in the Kasikeu area of Sultan Hamud
• In videos circulating online, the lorry slowly tries to navigate through the water before its swept away by the water
• The incident is followed by loud screams by residents at both river banks as those on the lorry struggle to swim in the river
• Most who reacted to the video called for action against the lorry driver and the passengers, adding that they failed to learn from past incidents

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Makueni—A lorry carrying at least 10 passengers was swept away by raging River Kwa Muswii waters in the Kasikeu area of Sultan Hamud.

In videos shared online, the lorry is captured loading passengers at the back as the other residents wait on the other side of the river.

How was Makueni lorry swept away

After a short moment of hesitation, the lorry driver decides to drive through the swollen river as one of the passengers holds on to the tail light.

As they came close to the centre of the river, the driver struggled to control the lorry as it encountered strong currents.

Shortly after, the lorry is swept over the bridge into the water, and the passengers struggle to swim amid deafening screams from the residents.

Engineer Bernard Kiilu told TUKO.co.ke that the incident occurred at the first bridge from Sultan on the way to Kasikeu.

"This is too bad. Waiting for like an hour could have saved them. What was the hurry for?" Kiilu lamented.

Kenyans express disappointment

Most netizens have expressed their outrage at all involved in the incident as they continued to hope they are all rescued.

A section of Kenyans questioned how, after numerous lives are lost in such a similar script, people still insist on putting their lives on the line.

@Adele_lide:

"These reckless drivers need to be jailed. It's unfortunate Kenyans will still blame Murkomen and serikali."

@TonyAlexIrungu:

"People never learn! In a flood, it doesn't matter how heavy your vehicle is. 2 feet of water is enough to sweep a vehicle away. And no matter how great a swimmer you are, drowning in a flood is easy."

@safe_schoolske:

"This is completely avoidable and people must understand the dangers of such actions. Don’t play with moving water, don’t!"

@digibizguru:

"No matter how many times it happens, there's always a Kenyan driver ready to try once more.."

@Jarnner:

"The man in blue seen following the lorry, gets on it and then suddenly disembarks is very lucky to escape this."

Umma bus swept away by floods

In a similar incident, a bus owned by Umma Express Ltd was travelling to Nairobi when it was swept away.

A video captured the bus slipping off the road after the driver attempted to cross the flooded highway in the Chuma Mrefu area.

Police reports indicated that the bus travelling to Nairobi from Wajir had 51 passengers onboard.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.