Kenyan leader mourns death of musicians in road accident

NAIROBI, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday condoled with the families, relatives and friends of seven artists who died in a road accident along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway on Saturday evening.

Kenyatta called on the police and other law enforcement agencies to step up their efforts to ensure motorists obey traffic safety rules and regulations.

Kenyatta said he was saddened to learn of the death of musician Cheruiyot of Kenene International and four members of his troupe.

"My sincere condolences to the families, friends and relatives of Weldon Cheruiyot, five members of his troupe and their driver who lost their lives in the Saturday night accident at Kamara along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway," he said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

Cheruiyot was a popular secular musician of Keneny International. Cheruiyot, popularly known as Keneny is one of the celebrated musicians in the Kalenjin community.

The Kenyan leader said the accident had cut short the lives of talented youth who had a promising future.

Kenyatta also extended his condolences to the families, relatives and friends of more than 14 people who lost their lives in another accident that occurred along the Marigat-Loruk road in Baringo County earlier on Saturday.

Road accidents still continue to occur despite stringiest traffic rules which were introduced by the government to help curb road carnage.

An estimated number of 3,000 Kenyans die on road accidents annually despite concerted efforts by the state and the private sector to promote safety on the highways, according to the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA). Enditem