A survivor of the Loreto convent Msongari girls school bus crash who filed a lawsuit against the school management and the driver for a sh 26million has testified in court about her ordeal before and after the accident.
19year old Madikizela Otieno told the court that the school Headmistress who was also going with them, refused to let them use two school buses considering the number of pupils who were to go for the school trip and instead insisted they use one bus.
“We were in excess and had to carry each other on the bus whose seat belts were equally not in good condition,” Ms Otieno said.
In the tragic accident which occurred on July 29th 2011, the young lady sustained facial, neck, and arm injuries and had to undergo several surgeries.
The second year law student at the University of Nottingham in the UK told justice Richard Mwongo that she was admitted at Nairobi hospital for 42 days and was later referred to Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London due to the nature of her injuries.
She said that she remembers hearing screeches as the driver tried to brake and then the bus rolled several times.
She also told the court that she testified in a case where the bus driver Patrick Oduor and the headmistress, Margaret Sewe were charged in a Meru court with carrying excess passengers.
Ms Otieno told the court that the amount arises from cost of treatment, which was more than Sh12 million and future medication.
The case will be heard on October 30th when Ms Otieno’s mother, Rael Lubasi, will testify.
pupils visited two factories in Meru County and were proceeding with their journey when the accident occurred in Buuri Sub-County.
The accident left six pupils dead and 69 others and seven teachers injured.
