The family of Lukas Abdala, the driver of the Kakamega bound bus that killed 56 passengers, has divulged that he resigned from Matunda Bus Company three days before he got a job with the ill-fated bus.
Standard reported that relatives of the 72 year-old driver said he had only worked in the bus for two days adding that he had a wealth of experience as a driver spanning 50 years.
According to his cousin Johnson Chogo, Abdala a father of 25 children was a social and welcoming individual and also took care of his late brothers’ children.
playLukas Abdala (Standard)
“This is a bad omen because Abdala was our breadwinner. We even don’t have money to cater for the funeral expenses and we can only hope well-wishers will help us,” said Chogo.
Mr. Chogo added that they received news of the accident on radio but did not believe Abdala would be among the victims.
Friends
Lukas Abdala’s friends at the Machakos Country Bus Terminus said that he was a disciplined driver.
In the Standard report, a driver who claimed to have been friends with Abdala and had known him for over 15 years revealed that the driver of the ill-fated bus refused to drive it because the brake linings were completely worn out.
playHe had resigned 3 days before - Family of driver bus that killed 56 speaks (Courtesy)
“The vehicle did not have brake linings, they were completely worn out. The driver declined to drive the bus until the brake linings were changed so they decided to bring on a temporary driver,” said Francis Mwangi a driver with the Eldoret Bus Services.
He also said that he personally vouched for Lukas Abdala because he was a careful driver and he never saw him drink alcohol.