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Umoinner yet to honour pledges to victims of train accident

By HILARY KIMUYU October 31st, 2015 2 min read

Two years after a tragic accident involving a matatu from the Umoinner Sacco and a commuter train at Mutindwa, the matatu operators are yet to actualized the pledges they made to survivors of the accident.

In the wake of the fateful morning of 30th October 2013, when 12 people lost their lives after a town bound train rammed into a matatu at a railway crossing near Umoja estate, the sacco pledged to raise funds for survivors and the victims’ families, but to date that has remained an empty promise.

Worse, the sacco whose fleet of matatus were impounded for a few days following the incident, is still – in the eyes of many – notorious for road accidents.

Speaking to Nairobi News on condition of anonymity one of the survivor of the accident said Umoinner sacco has never made any follow up on their progress.

“I sustained several fractures which changed so many things in my life. But am thankful to God for giving me a second chance to live. As for Umoinner, I don’t want anything to do with them,” she said.

ROAD REGULATIONS

When Nairobi News reached Umoinner sacco for comments, their representatives promised to return to the call but failed to do so.

When the accident happened, the then Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau warned all Public Service Vehicle owners and drivers of dire consequences if they failed to comply with road regulations.

Umoinner matatus were subsequently grounded for a few days following a directive from the National Transport and Safety Authority Act.

But since then, Umoinner matatus have been involved in more accidents, the most recent one being on 7th August 2015 when one matatu from the sacco knocked down and killed a small boy in Shauri Moyo estate.

Representatives of the sacco are on record for saying that accidents involving matatus in their fleet is giving them negative publicity which is affecting their business.

The sacco recently suffered a major blow after some former members registered a rival sacco by the name City Tram, whose fleet will also be plying the Umoja-Town route.