At least seven people have lost their lives in two separate road accidents reported in Kisii and Gilgil, highlighting once again the devastating toll of reckless driving and poor road safety.
In Kisii County, two people a man and a woman were confirmed dead following a horrifying early morning accident at Daraja Mbili Market. According to Police Commissioner Kazungu Charo, the accident occurred at around 8:25 a.m. when a Tata Canter lorry lost control and rammed into stationary vehicles and motorcycles.
“A Tata vehicle, which is a Canter, lost control and knocked two other vehicles, a Toyota Prado and a Probox,” said Charo. The victims, who were going about their daily activities at the busy market, died on the spot.
Eleven others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment. Four motorcycles caught in the crash were badly damaged and taken to Nyancho Police Station.
Meanwhile, in a separate and even more gruesome crash, five people, including an infant, perished on Monday evening in Gilgil, Nakuru County. The accident, which occurred at the Mbaruk area along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, involved three vehicles.
Nakuru County Traffic Enforcement Officer Allan Ogolla reported that the crash happened around 6 p.m. after the driver of a Toyota Fielder attempted to overtake several vehicles but failed to return to his lane in time. The vehicle collided head-on with a saloon car before ramming into a Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer.
All five occupants of the Fielder — two female adults, two male adults, and a male infant died instantly. The impact of the crash caused the car to burst into flames, reducing it to a shell.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, and the bodies were taken to the mortuary pending autopsies. The wreckage of the vehicles was moved to the local police station as investigations continue.
Authorities are urging drivers to exercise caution, especially during overtaking and while navigating busy market areas, to prevent such heart-wrenching tragedies.
