A senior police officer was killed on Monday evening in a devastating nine-vehicle crash at Karai along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway in Naivasha.
Police identified the victim as Senior Superintendent John Rioba, the County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) for Nyandarua County. He was driving an Isuzu D-Max when the accident occurred at about 4:50 p.m.
According to witnesses, the crash began when a Sinotruk truck travelling from Nairobi toward Nakuru reportedly lost control and rammed into a Toyota Land Cruiser moving in the same direction.
The force of the collision pushed the Land Cruiser into the opposite lane, where it crashed into seven oncoming vehicles, triggering a chain-reaction accident involving nine vehicles in total. The vehicles included lorries, matatus, private cars, and the police officer’s vehicle.
Rioba suffered severe injuries and was rushed to Naivasha Sub-County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A Ceska pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, which was in his possession, was recovered from members of the public by a police officer at the scene.
Among those injured was Uasin Gishu MCA Regina Chumba, who complained of chest pains and was taken to hospital for treatment. Two European nationals travelling in the Land Cruiser sustained minor injuries.
Police said the driver of the Sinotruk truck fled the scene immediately after the accident and is being sought by authorities.
All nine vehicles involved were extensively damaged and have been towed to Naivasha Police Station pending inspection. Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
Police officers visited the scene and coordinated rescue operations as victims were transported to various hospitals for treatment.
The accident is the latest in a series of fatal crashes reported across the country despite ongoing efforts to improve road safety.
On Monday night, police reported that four people had died in separate road accidents. The victims included three motorcycle riders and a driver. Twelve others sustained serious injuries, among them four riders, two drivers, two passengers, two pedestrians, and two pillion passengers.
Road fatalities continue to rise in Kenya, with official statistics showing that more than 4,000 people lose their lives annually in traffic accidents. Thousands more suffer serious injuries, leaving lasting social and economic consequences for families and communities.
Authorities have intensified road safety campaigns to address the trend. Officials cite hit-and-run incidents, tyre bursts, loss of vehicle or motorcycle control, improper overtaking, and failure to maintain the correct lane—often resulting in head-on collisions—as some of the leading causes of fatal crashes.
