Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo on Saturday, August 8 morning visited the home of the late Elvis “Beast” Otieno, a former Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) student leader, as family and friends gathered to lay him to rest.

The PS expressed deep condolences to the family of Otieno, the TUM fraternity, and the families of the two students who died in the accident involving students travelling from Mombasa to attend the burial.

He said three students remain in hospital while most of those injured have been discharged, and wished them a full recovery.

He appealed to students and mourners to maintain peace and calm throughout the burial ceremony, stressing that nothing should be allowed to dishonour Otieno or cause further pain to his family. He urged young people to emulate Otieno’s commitment to education, youth leadership, community service and support for his family.

According to TUM Vice-Chancellor Laila U. Abubakar, the students had arrived safely in Kisumu where they received Otieno’s body, which had been flown from Mombasa. However, the fatal accident occurred as the bus carrying the mourners approached Ahero.

Just before the accident, the driver of the bus is said to have attempted to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming speeding saloon car, before he lost control of the vehicle and it rolled.

The injured students were rushed to Lisa Hospital in Ahero and the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu for treatment.

A video that is doing rounds on social media shows some students hanging from the moving bus, while others appeared to be sitting on top of the vehicle.