On the 17th November 2011, I took two days off the gruelling work of leading a fast paced business and decided to take a road trip to visit my mom and commune by my dads grave. I love road trips like this and when I do them I opt to take them alone as it gives me time to reflect and be alone (which is diametrically different from being lonely) and to listen to my heart.
My hometown happens to be in Kisumu, proudly so, complete with a brand new International airport to boot - so soon I will be flying direct to "Dalla Texas" - pun intended. From what I can recollect I have been on this road coutless times over the past 12 years since I have been certified as a driver. In all these years I have had a safe passage and seen the road in different states of repair and have driven a Fiat Uno, a Suzuki Maruti, Toyota Sprinter, Suzuki Vitara, Landcruiser Prado and a Mitsubishi Pajero down these roads. I can largely say that I know the nooks and crannies of this road learned through the years.
Recently I have discovered the route that takes me through Mai Mahiu, Narok, Bomet, Sotik, Kericho and down to Kisumu. Even though it is slightly longer but it affords the driver the comfort of fewer oncoming traffic as well as a smooth motorable road and some of the best scenery that I have experienced in Kenya. You get on to see the Great Rift Valley, the escarpment, you also get on to see the Maasai lowlands and the entrance to the world famous Maasai Mara, you get on to encounter the fearsome and warlike maasai tribe as you journey through Narok town. As you approach Bomet you come face to face with the Kalenjin subtribe of Nandi as well as the Kipsigis and see firsthand how urbanisation has impacted them in the towns of Bomet and Sotik. A detour through Bomet to Litein will take you through pristine farmlands with well kept tea bushes and the road winds through these farmlands and you are lost in time not knowing exactly where you are. It is at these moments that I appreciate Nokia's Here maps which have these roads all mapped out and you are clear where you are coming from and where you are headed.
On this day, I left Nairobi rather late, circa 4pm and was driving past Kericho shortly after 8pm. Kericho is approximately 80km from Kisumu and by this time every Kisumu bound driver starts feels the comfort of getting closer to home and the "golden mile effect" kicks in. Beyond Kericho, it is evident after a short climb that you are starting a descent into the famous Kavirondo Gulf or better known as Winam Gulf. The road down is winding with speed bumps closely spaced all the way through the small trading towns of Kapsoit, Kaitui, Awasi, Boya and all the way to Ahero. Beyond Ahero you get on to bomb down to Kisumu through the flat rice paddies and you are home.
About 2km from Kaitui town, my rather calm and quiet driving was suddenly interrupted by a loud bang that sent my car tumbling from the road into the ditch. I discovered seconds later that a large petrol tanker that had lost control had come round the bend and hit me from behind. Everything happened so fast but I soon discovered that the tanker was not stopping. Realising that it was dark and if I didnt do something about it, I would be a statistic of a hit and run traffic case, I managed to get the badly damaged car back onto the road and started to give chase to the runway tanker. All this while it did not occur to me that the tanker was out of control or had lost its braking system.
A fey hundred yards down the road the truck lost control and rolled several times and came to rest on its side next to a small trading post.
A fey hundred yards down the road the truck lost control and rolled several times and came to rest on its side next to a small trading post.
