Ten people have lost their lives following a tragic road accident that occurred in the early hours of Monday along the Nairobi Nakuru highway at Karai.
The fatal collision happened shortly after 1.00 am when a Greenline bus travelling to Nairobi rammed into a Nanyuki Cabs shuttle heading towards Nakuru.
The impact was severe, killing nine people instantly eight passengers from the shuttle and a young child who was travelling in the bus.
By Monday morning, authorities confirmed the death toll had risen to ten, as several victims who had been rushed to hospital succumbed to their injuries. Five others remain in critical condition.
Naivasha Sub-County Hospital received at least 35 casualties, including five children, as emergency teams worked through the night to treat the injured.
The crash occurred on a stretch of road that has recently been flagged as a black spot, having also been the scene of a fatal accident involving former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo weeks earlier.
Naivasha Sub-County Police Commander Wilson Sigei said preliminary findings suggest dangerous overtaking may have played a role in the collision.
“This section of the highway is under close observation due to frequent cases of speeding,” Sigei said, adding that investigations are ongoing.
Eyewitnesses told police that a saloon car entering the highway from a nearby petrol station caused confusion on the road, forcing the bus driver to swerve and collide with the oncoming shuttle.
Meanwhile, some passengers on the bus alleged that the driver appeared fatigued during the journey from Nakuru, raising questions about driver alertness at the time of the crash.
Police have launched investigations to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the accident as calls grow for stricter enforcement of traffic laws along the busy highway.
By Samson Jura
