Ex-minister Bett injured in Kericho accident

Former Roads Minister Franklin Bett sustained injuries in an accident along the Kericho-Kisumu highway on Thursday night.

A motor vehicle the former Cabinet Minister was travelling in hit a tractor that was ferrying sugar cane according to a police report.

The accident occurred at Karange area along the Awasi-Kericho area at around 7:00 am according to the police.

“As a result, Mr Bett sustained a deep cut on the fore head while the other two female adults and the driver sustained slight injuries” The police report states.

Mr Bett and the other passengers in the vehicle were rushed to Awasi Catholic hospital in a stable condition and later referred to Aga Khan hospital for further treatment.

But a family source said on Friday morning that the former politician was taken to Siloam hospital in Kericho town.

“The former minister is in a stable condition and will be discharged today as he was admitted overnight for observation,” The family member who sought anonymity told the Nation on telephone.

He added, “I am from seeing him at the hospital this morning and he is okay. There is no cause for alarm”

The motor vehicle which the politician-businessman was travelling in was later towed to the nearby Awasi police station.

Police stated that the tractor that was involved in the accident did not stop and efforts were being made to trace it by press time. It was drizzling at the time of the accident according to the police.

Cases of accidents involving tractors, most of which are on the roads long after the 6pm restricted timelines, are common in the region.

In many cases, the tractors do not have head and rear lights, are not insured, have worn out tires, are overloaded and the drivers do not have driving licences.