Nakuru, Kenya – At least 13 people are feared dead and three others critically injured after a matatu collided head-on with a lorry along the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway at Elementaita on Sunday evening.
Police and witnesses said the matatu rammed into the lorry, leaving bodies trapped in the mangled wreckage. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals as emergency teams worked to clear the busy Northern Corridor stretch.
The crash occurred barely 24 hours after six people perished when a St. Mary’s Elementaita ambulance collided with a vehicle near Kimende on the same highway. Among the dead in that tragedy were a patient, her husband, two relatives, a nurse, and the driver.
Nakuru County police boss confirmed investigations were underway. “We are looking into the exact cause of this accident. Preliminary reports point to reckless driving and speeding, but a full probe will establish the facts,” he told reporters.
The Nakuru–Nairobi Highway, one of Kenya’s busiest and deadliest roads, has long been notorious for fatal crashes at black spots such as Gilgil, Kinungi, Salgaa, and Sachangwan. Data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) shows over 4,000 people died in road accidents last year, with nearly 10 P.c of the fatalities recorded on this single highway.
Road safety experts continue to cite reckless driving, fatigue, and poorly maintained vehicles as the main culprits. The recurring tragedies have sparked calls for enhanced enforcement of traffic rules. “This carnage cannot continue. Authorities must ensure speed limits are observed, vehicles are roadworthy, and rogue drivers face strict penalties,” said transport lobbyist Peter Kimutai in Nakuru.
Residents along the corridor expressed outrage, urging government intervention. “Every other week, we are burying loved ones because of accidents on this road. It’s time the government redesigns these black spots and tightens surveillance,” said Mary Wanjiru, a trader at Gilgil.
As investigations continue, families of victims are left reeling from yet another tragedy on a highway that has become synonymous with loss. The latest crash underscores the urgent need for comprehensive road safety reforms to stem the tide of preventable deaths.
