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A requiem mass for the seven Ebenezer Academy pupils who perished when the school bus they were travelling in was involved in an accident on Saturday is underway in Busia.
The mass is being held in preparation for the late learners’ final send-off set to begin on Saturday July 1.
Two of the pupils will be interred on July 1 while the remaining five will be laid to rest on July 7 and 8.
The mass is being held at Busia Polytechnic playfield.
Governor Paul Otuoma, Matayos MP Geoffrey Odanga, acting County commissioner Kipchumba Ruto and county chief executive committee members are among leaders who have joined mourners in reciting final prayers for the minors who died at Kaburengu, a deadly black spot near Webuye town that has claimed hundreds of lives.
The bodies were moved to Busia on Monday from Webuye County Hospital mortuary where they were first admitted to immediately after the accident.
Four of the learners died on the spot when the accident occurred while two others breathe their last on admission to Webuye County Hospital.
Image: EMOJONG OSERE
The number of those whose lives the horrific accident claimed, however, later rose to seven after another pupil succumbed to injuries.
The accident occurred after the Ebenezer Academy school bus was reportedly hit by a Mercedes Benz truck that was traveling from Eldoret toward Webuye town.
A fundraiser was held on Wednesday to raise money to run burial activities.
The school management and teachers as well as neighbours and local leaders who have been visiting Ebenezer Academy to condole with the school are yet to come to terms with the tragedy that visited one of Busia’s vibrant academic institutions.
On June 27, school head James Ouma said besides the seven pupils who perished, six others were critically injured.
One has since been referred to Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu for specialised treatment while two are receiving medical care at Life Care Hospital Bungoma where they were referred to. Another three are admitted at Bungoma Referral Hospital.
Nine others, the school head said, sustained minor injuries and were released to join their families.
Two teachers also sustained serious injuries during the deadly accident.
One teacher is admitted at Bungoma Referral Hospital while the other is still at Webuye County Hospital.
The driver of the school bus is also receiving treatment Bungoma Referral Hospital.
The Kaburengu black spot has been at the limelight for recurrent accidents for years running. Some 16 people have lost lives at the black spot in the last about one month.
The stretch of the highway between Turbo and Webuye town has claimed 88 lives since January 1.
On June 4, four people died at the black spot after a trailer ferrying goods to Uganda lost control and crushed a motorbike rider.
One day later, a cargo truck hit and killed four people who were returning home in Malava after attending a relative’s funeral in Bungoma. BY THE STAR