A senior traffic police officer was among two people who tragically lost their lives in a road accident along the Narok-Mai Mahiu highway on Saturday night. The crash was one of several deadly incidents that occurred over the weekend, claiming close to 30 lives across the country in a worrying rise in road fatalities.
The Saturday night collision occurred near Duka Moja at around 10:00 p.m. and involved three vehicles: a Scania trailer, a Toyota Prado TX, and a Toyota G-Touring. According to police reports, the Scania trailer, which was headed towards Mai Mahiu, veered out of its lane into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with the Toyota Prado. The impact pushed the Prado into the path of the G-Touring, resulting in a three-vehicle pileup.
The driver of the Prado, identified as a senior officer attached to the Narok Traffic Base, and the trailer driver died on the spot. A passenger in the Prado suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Narok County Referral Hospital. Four passengers in the Scania were also injured and admitted to the same hospital.
This accident was one of several fatal incidents reported over the weekend. Nine people lost their lives in various crashes on Saturday, while six more died in separate road incidents on Sunday. Police also confirmed that 13 individuals were killed in different crashes on Friday, bringing the total number of fatalities to nearly 30 within just three days. Dozens more are currently hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries.
Authorities are expressing concern over the alarming surge in fatal road accidents, which have become increasingly frequent despite numerous road safety campaigns. Reckless overtaking, excessive speeding, and driving under the influence of alcohol remain the top causes of such tragedies. Many of the accidents are attributed to driver negligence and disregard for traffic regulations.
In addition to human error, mechanical failures have also been blamed for the growing number of crashes. Vehicles with worn-out tyres, faulty brakes, and other mechanical issues continue to operate on Kenyan roads, putting passengers and other road users at great risk.
Poor infrastructure has also contributed significantly to the problem. Many roads are riddled with potholes, have unclear signage, and lack proper lighting factors that make night travel especially dangerous. The situation is further compounded by inadequate enforcement of traffic laws and incidents of corruption at checkpoints, which allow unroadworthy vehicles and reckless drivers to remain on the roads unchecked.
The rise in road fatalities highlights an urgent need for stricter enforcement, improved infrastructure, and a renewed commitment to public awareness and driver education to stem the tide of these preventable tragedies.
