Thirteen students of Majoreni Primary and Junior Secondary School were on Friday evening injured after a canter carrying them overturned.
Police said the canter transporting 95 students overturned on Kidimu-Majoreni-Vanga road in Lunga Lunga, Kwale county, at 5pm.
No death was reported.
The students were returning home from an inter-school games competition in Kidimu, quite a distance from Majoreni village.
Police said the 13 injured learners were taken to Msambweni County Referral Hospital. Most were treated and discharged.
Almost every household in Majoreni village has child who was on the canter. Residents say the learners are still traumatised.
Ali Shee, 17, was among those rushed to Msambweni County Referral Hospital. He was treated and discharged.
He suffered injuries to his back, waist, chest and head. He is confined to bed at home and cannot do anything by himself.
"I'm in a lot of pain," Shee said.
He said they were compelled to board the already overcrowded canter. Some students hung on the sides of the vehicle, while others clung to the roof.
The Grade 8 student said the canter overturned as the driver was trying to negotiate a corner.
Shee said he hopes to recover soon and go back to school and continue playing football.
His mother, Sinangoa Mohamed, said her son is in a lot of pain.
She wants answers and justice for her son and the other injured students.
"I feel like crying. My son went to school in perfect condition and returned like this. My neighbours have been helping wash him and assist him to stand up," she said.
Sada Bakari, 15, a Grade 7 student suffered injuries to her knee, ribs, stomach and chest. The injuries have greatly reduced her mobility.
She is unable to cough or laugh properly due to pain. She also experiences frequent headaches.
Bakari recounted how other students piled on top of her when the canter overturned.
Hamadi Abdallah broke his hand in the accident. A few of his classmates jumped off the canter, but he was unable to do so and fell on his right side.
Abdallah said the canter was full, but they still boarded instead of walking home.
Parent Abdallah Hassan, whose son was in the accident, said they were charged Sh100 for transportation.
Mohammed Bege, an activist and parent whose two children were in the accident, urged the government to compensate the injured students and ensure their welfare.
Pongwe-Kikoneni MCA Omar Mwaduga called for calm as the authorities take appropriate action.
He said the canter belongs to a resident, who had offered it out of goodwill.
"The lorry belongs to one of us. It is unfortunate the accident happened," Mwaduga said.
Msambweni Knut secretary Bashir Kilalo said he questioned the head teacher, who explained there was a shortage of vehicles on the day of the accident.
He said all school buses were in Kilifi for a music festival and although Majoreni school management board had made plans to have a bus transport the learners, time constraint forced them to use a canter.
Kilalo said the head teacher was absent and those present decided to use the canter.
He said 52 students from Majoreni were scheduled to participate in the inter-school games competition, but sfter the incident, they realised the number of those on the lorry was higher.
Kilalo, however, said stern interventions and disciplinary action will be taken to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.
