Several lives have been lost following a horrifying road accident involving a matatu and two motorcycles along a busy Kenyan highway.
The tragic incident occurred on the morning of Sunday, June 8, and has left many families in mourning and communities in shock.
The accident took place at around 11 a.m. along a dangerous slope between Ichuni and Keroka town. Eyewitnesses say the matatu, which was headed to Nairobi, suddenly lost control while descending the steep hill.
The vehicle, which had picked up numerous passengers along the Kilgoris–Nyangusu–Gesusu–Masimba route, veered off the road and plunged into a ditch, slamming into two motorcycles and several pedestrians in the process.
Shocking images from the crash site shared by Kenyans.co.ke show the matatu completely wrecked, with twisted metal and shattered windows scattered around the scene.
One of the matatu’s front tyres was reportedly missing, and those who witnessed the incident say the vehicle began swerving dangerously just moments before the fatal crash.
The tyre is believed to have come off while the matatu was still in motion, making it uncontrollable.
Tragically, among the deceased were innocent pedestrians who happened to be on the roadside when the out-of-control matatu veered in their direction.
By the time the news was reported, both bystanders and emergency response teams were frantically trying to rescue passengers who remained trapped inside the mangled wreckage.
Some of the victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, although the full extent of their injuries remains unclear.
Initial reports from the crash site confirmed that at least three people died on the spot. However, authorities have warned that the death toll could rise as rescue efforts continue and more information comes in.
Police officers on the ground have yet to release a full report on the cause of the accident, but they have not ruled out the possibility of overspeeding.
The road section where the incident occurred is known for its steep descent, and overspeeding has been a common issue in past accidents in the area.
This tragic accident adds to a growing list of deadly road crashes reported in Kenya in recent days. Just a few days earlier, multiple police officers lost their lives when their patrol vehicle collided with a trailer at Matisi, along the Bungoma–Webuye Highway.
The collision left the police car extensively damaged and led to national mourning for the fallen officers.
In another recent incident, two people died on May 13 in a road crash involving a matatu at Malili, along the busy Nairobi–Mombasa Highway.
The Naekana Sacco matatu, which was traveling from Taveta to Nairobi, collided with a lorry early in the morning, leaving several passengers seriously injured.
Authorities are now calling for heightened road safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic rules to prevent further loss of life on Kenyan roads.
The rising number of fatal accidents is raising alarm across the country as families continue to lose loved ones to preventable tragedies.
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