BOMET, Kenya – At least 13 people were killed and 11 others seriously injured in a grisly road accident on Saturday afternoon in the Daraja Sita area along the Kaplong-Litein road in Bomet County.
According to police, the crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. and involved a head-on collision between a public service matatu, a lorry, and a Mazda vehicle.
The force of the impact left a trail of mangled wreckage and claimed multiple lives on the spot.
Police and first responders rushed to the scene, working to extract victims and clear the busy highway.
The injured were taken to Kaplong and Kapkatet Mission Hospitals, where they are currently receiving treatment.
The bodies of the deceased have been preserved at the same facilities pending identification and autopsy.
“The investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the crash,” said police spokesperson Michael Muchiri, adding that reckless overtaking and speeding are among the suspected contributing factors.
The National Police Service has urged road users to remain vigilant and strictly observe traffic rules.
“These tragic accidents continue to claim innocent lives. We call upon all drivers and passengers to prioritise safety by observing speed limits, avoiding overtaking in unsafe zones, and maintaining discipline on the roads,” Muchiri said in a statement.
This incident adds to a worrying rise in road fatalities across the country in recent days.
On Friday evening, 14 people were injured in a separate accident involving a Tahmeed bus and a public service vehicle in Kibarani, Mombasa County.
Earlier in the week, a collision between a matatu ferrying students from Ober Boys Boarding School and a sugarcane truck in Nyakach Subcounty left four people dead and 19 injured.
Kenya has long grappled with high road traffic fatality rates, often blamed on speeding, poor enforcement of traffic laws, and inadequate road infrastructure.
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), hundreds of Kenyans die annually on the roads, with many of the crashes deemed preventable.
FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN DARAJA SITA AREA, SOTIKPolice in Sotik have launched an investigation following a fatal road traffic accident that occurred today, 5th April 2025, in Daraja Sita along the Kaplong-Litein Road.Preliminary investigations reveal that the accident
