NAIROBI, Kenya — Presidential aspirant and Deputy Party Leader of the Justice and Freedom Party, Reuben Kigame, narrowly escaped death Sunday morning after his vehicle veered into a ditch along the Kapsabet–Chavakali road.
In a statement shared on X, Kigame said the incident occurred at around 5:00 am near Shiru, a stretch he described as notorious for its poor condition. He blamed a speeding bus whose driver was allegedly overtaking recklessly with full headlights directed at his vehicle.
According to Kigame, his driver swerved off the road to avoid a head-on collision, sending their white SUV crashing into a roadside ditch. Images circulating online show the vehicle partially submerged as bystanders gathered to offer assistance.
“You come with full lights aiming at us, and you drive us into the ditch. Shame on you as a company. Shame on your drivers,” Kigame said in an emotional video recorded moments after the crash.
The musician-turned-politician did not spare government agencies, accusing them of failing to guarantee the safety of motorists. “Shame on you as a company. Shame on your drivers. Shame on Vihiga County. Shame on the Kenya Highways Authority. Shame on all who are responsible for our safety. NTSA, shame on you,” he said.
Kigame was travelling to address students at the University of Eldoret when the accident occurred. Despite the ordeal, he confirmed he continued with his journey, attributing his survival to divine intervention.
“Praise be to God who has spared our lives,” he wrote, thanking members of the public who rushed to help in the early morning darkness.
The crash comes amid renewed scrutiny of road safety standards in Kenya. Recent data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) shows a sustained rise in road fatalities, with overtaking errors, speeding, and poor road conditions among the leading causes.
Article 26 of the Constitution protects the right to life, while Article 43 guarantees the right to reasonable standards of health and safety — obligations that extend to public infrastructure management.
Kigame’s remarks also revive questions about inter-agency coordination in road oversight. The Kenya National Highways Authority is responsible for the management and maintenance of national roads, while NTSA regulates road transport and enforces compliance with traffic laws.
The near-fatal incident adds to a politically active week for Kigame. Just days earlier, he criticised the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, questioning its independence and arguing that executive influence undermines its watchdog role.
Kigame is seeking the presidency in 2027 on what he describes as a radical, ethics-driven platform centred on social justice and accountable governance.
In 2022, he attempted to contest the presidency but was locked out of the ballot by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission — a decision later overturned by the courts, albeit too late for inclusion.
