Eight people lost their lives on Thursday afternoon, August 7, 2025, when a Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) staff bus collided with a freight train at Morendat Junction in Naivasha. Several others sustained injuries, some critically, in one of the region’s worst recent transport tragedies.
According to Naivasha OCPD Anthony Keter, the accident occurred as the bus attempted to cross the railway line. Despite the train driver applying emergency brakes, there was insufficient time to avoid impact. The crash left the bus severely mangled, while the train emerged largely unscathed.
Emergency responders, including police, Kenya Red Cross, and local volunteers, rushed to the scene to rescue survivors and provide first aid. Critically injured victims were taken to hospitals in Naivasha, with arrangements underway to airlift some to specialised facilities for advanced care.
The KPC staff bus was ferrying employees home after the morning shift when the collision happened. KPC Managing Director Joe Sang expressed deep sorrow, confirming that emergency response teams were activated immediately. “We are working closely with the medical teams and local authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible care and to facilitate airlifts for the critically injured. At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues and their families,” Sang said.
KPC also deployed welfare and psychosocial support teams to help staff and families cope with the aftermath of the tragedy. On-site, KPC first responders worked alongside local emergency services to stabilise the injured and coordinate the complex evacuation process.
The collision caused significant traffic disruption along the busy Naivasha–Nakuru highway as police diverted vehicles and cleared debris. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the accident, including whether visibility, mechanical issues, or human error played a role.
This incident underscores growing concerns over safety at railway crossings in Kenya, with calls for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and improved warning systems. For now, the focus remains on mourning the deceased, aiding survivors, and supporting the families grappling with sudden loss.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a shorter breaking-news version of this for your Evening Brief newsletter. It would condense the story for quick reader consumption while keeping the emotional weight intact.
