Two people died and one was seriously injured on Sunday morning, August 17, after a lorry plunged into the Nzoia River along the Bomet-Kaplong Highway.
In a statement on its official X account, the Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) confirmed the incident, noting that it occurred at Soymet Bridge in Bomet County. “Soymet Bridge, Bomet, 2 dead, 1 rushed to the hospital after a lorry plunged into the river this Sunday morning,” MAK stated.
Emergency responders and local residents rushed to the scene to assist in rescue efforts. The sole survivor was taken to Kaplong Hospital for urgent medical attention.
This tragic incident comes barely 24 hours after another fatal road accident claimed two lives and left three others injured along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. That accident occurred on Saturday, August 16, when a trailer rammed into an oncoming pick-up truck before colliding with another lorry traveling in the same direction at Kwa Mautiiyo in Malii.
Athi River South Sub-County Police Commander David Kandie confirmed that the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway crash happened at around 7:30 a.m., killing the trailer driver and a 25-year-old passenger seated at the back of the pick-up on the spot. The three survivors were rushed to Machakos Level 5 Hospital, where they are recuperating.
These accidents have added to the growing tally of road fatalities in the country. According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), a total of 2,933 lives have been lost in road crashes between January and August 10 this year.
Acknowledging the alarming surge, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, in a statement on Monday, August 12, announced that a government team had been dispatched to identify and investigate accident-prone areas. The team is expected to submit a technical report within seven days, outlining measures to mitigate further tragedies.
CS Chirchir urged motorists to remain vigilant and strictly observe traffic rules. “As a ministry, we will continue working with all stakeholders to implement both long- and medium-term measures outlined in Kenya’s National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028,” he said.