Fear gripped bus passengers on Thursday after a man died inside a vehicle at Malili township along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, becoming the second such incident in a week.
The Simba Coach bus was travelling from Busia to Mombasa. The passengers were sleeping in their seats after the bus parked at the shopping centre shortly before 10pm, when the curfew imposed by government to curb the spread of Covid-19 starts.
“Two hours later, at around midnight, the passenger sleeping next to the man raised an alarm after realising that he was lifeless,” Mr Justus Kitetu, Makueni deputy county police commander.
A relative said the deceased had reported high fever, the police said.
The incident led to panic as other passengers jumped out of the bus with their luggage in tow.
Health officials collected the body, fumigated the bus in line with Covid-19 protocols, and counselled the passengers on Friday morning.
“We shall allow them to proceed with their trip,” Makueni County commissioner Mohammed Maalim said.
Just three days ago, a man died inside a matatu along Mombasa road.
While it was initially feared that Covid-19 was the cause of death, tests on samples taken from the man, who has been identified as Leonard Odhiambo, 57, were negative for coronavirus.
Following the two incidents, Mr Maalim has called on PSV operators to ensure they adhere to Covid-19 protocols.
“Operators of public service vehicles must check the temperatures of passengers before they board and ensure they carry the recommended number who should sit at least a metre apart” he said.
