A deadly crash on the Nyeri-Nyahururu Highway has sparked fears of multiple fatalities, as a lorry collided with a 14-seater matatu at the Aberdare Country Club Junction.
The gruesome accident has thrown the area into chaos with a massive traffic gridlock causing frustration for travellers along the Nyeri-Mweiga stretch. Emergency responders rushed the injured to Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mweiga, as police struggled to clear the wreckage.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the accident was a result of reckless speeding. However, authorities are yet to confirm the cause, as investigations are ongoing. This comes amid a rise in similar accidents, with Kenyans increasingly alarmed by the frequency of road tragedies. The police have ramped up efforts to piece together the sequence of events that led to the accident.
While some witnesses claim the lorry veered off its lane, others point to the matatu driver’s attempt to overtake on the busy road. Traffic police are on-site, working to uncover the truth while managing the growing congestion.
This accident follows another fatal incident last week on the Sagana-Karatina Highway, where a matatu overturned, killing a woman instantly and leaving several passengers with severe injuries. The incident echoed the concerns of residents who have long criticised the state of local roads and the reckless behavior of some drivers. Despite calls for tougher action, road carnage continues to rise.
In a separate horror, panic gripped Likoni residents recently when a passenger bus plunged into the Indian Ocean at the ferry crossing. Although no lives were lost, the incident exposed the dire state of road safety in the country. Nine passengers were injured, and the bus was later retrieved from the water, but the near-tragedy rattled the nation.
Statistics from the National Police Service (NPS) reveal a disturbing trend. Between January and mid-September 2024, 3,369 lives were lost on Kenyan roads, with pedestrians accounting for the largest share of the fatalities. Motorcyclists, passengers, and drivers are also among the most affected groups. As accidents continue to climb, authorities are grappling with how to stem the tide.
This year alone has seen a staggering 7,114 accidents by late August, up from 6,411 during the same period in 2023. Over 15,000 people have been affected, with 3,056 killed and thousands left with devastating injuries. The rising death toll has triggered public outrage and calls for urgent government intervention.
Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli has expressed alarm at the escalating carnage, urging citizens to take personal responsibility while driving. He highlighted the need for stringent enforcement of traffic regulations, pointing out that traffic police will be cracking down on speeding and other violations. Masengeli also acknowledged that corruption within the Traffic Unit had exacerbated the problem.
