First action to be taken against late Nyeri Governor's driver

juma chrispinus

November 16, 2017 8:28 AM

Mr Samuel Kinyanjui escaped the death narrowly at Kabati area.

The driver who narrowly escaped death in freak accident that killed Nyeri Governor Dr Wahome Gakuru will be charged with murder.

Samuel Kinyanjui, the driver of the ill-fated Mercedes Benz that killed the governor at Kabati area in Murang’a County, will be on Thursday charged in court for “carelessly driving the governor” in a Kigumo High Court.

The new twist in the murder comes barely a week after Mr Kinyanjui narrated a heart touching story if how he attempted within his ability to avoid the accident, only to veer off the road.

Mr Kinyanjui, who is still nursing minor injuries at the Nairobi Hospital, described the events that led to the death of his boss.

The driver painted a picture of a death that would have been avoided but was hampered by a myriad of misfortunes.

“We were late but the governor told me not to speed because it was raining and the road was slippery. I was driving around a speed of between 105 and 110 kilometres per hour,” Mr Kinyanjui said earlier in an interview with The Standard.

An hour into their journey, one of the rear tyres burst forcing the driver to promptly reduce the speed. He adds that he had deliberately opted to hit the rail guard.

“I realised that a lorry which was behind me was approaching at a high speed. I had to swerve suddenly to avoid the lorry which was trying to overtake me.

“I thought if I hit the guard rail the car would stop. I feared that if the lorry hit me from the rear, it would push us into the middle of the road and a cause multiple-cars accident,” he recalled.

Unfortunately, upon the impact of hitting the guard rail, the airbag deployed which not only blocked his view, but also rammed his foot still on the accelerator pedal.

With its high accelerating power, the force of the Mercedes E250 rammed into the car’s body, Kinyanjui recalls at that moment, Gakuru gasped “God!”

If found culpable of the offense, Mr Kinyanjui risks a jail term of three to six months, or a fine not exceeding Sh500,000. The hearing is due Thursday.

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