Road safety concerns have resurfaced following a fatal collision involving a passenger matatu and a trailer at Kondoo area along the Eldoret-Nakuru Highway in the early hours of Saturday, October 31.
At least five people are reported to have died in the crash, which occurred at around 12:20 am in the Timboroa area. Several other passengers sustained injuries after the 14-seater matatu collided head-on with a trailer ferrying ballast.
Preliminary reports indicate that the matatu was travelling from Eldoret towards Nakuru when it collided with the trailer. Witnesses said the impact killed five people at the scene, while other occupants were left injured.
Emergency responders and traffic police officers rushed to the scene to assist the victims and coordinate rescue operations. The injured passengers were subsequently taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The collision left the matatu extensively damaged, with a shattered windscreen, broken windows, damaged tyres and mangled seats. The wreckage reflected the severity of the impact between the two vehicles.
Police officers began assessing the scene to establish what led to the collision. However, the circumstances surrounding the crash had not been fully established by the time of publication. Details regarding the identities of the deceased and the condition of the injured passengers were also not immediately available.
The incident adds to a growing list of road crashes that have raised questions about safety on Kenyan roads, particularly along busy highways used by public service vehicles and heavy commercial trucks.
On Sunday, October 25, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) called for road accidents to be declared a national disaster, citing the high number of deaths and injuries recorded across the country.
The authority reported that road crashes kill more than 5,000 people annually, while approximately 20,000 road accident incidents are reported every year.
According to NTSA, the incidents continue to claim lives, separate families, strain healthcare facilities and undermine economic productivity.
NTSA argued that declaring road accidents a national disaster would prompt urgent government action and ensure adequate funding for measures aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries.
The authority also said the classification would strengthen coordination among road safety agencies, the National Police Service, healthcare providers and county governments. It would also establish clear accountability and measurable targets for institutions responsible for improving road safety.
The latest tragedy comes barely a day after a separate matatu accident at Umoja Junction along Kangundo Road in Nairobi left one person dead and several others injured.
The Forward Sacco matatu overturned at around 10 pm on Thursday, October 29, while reportedly ferrying passengers home. Some occupants were trapped underneath the wreckage, prompting rescue efforts.
The two incidents have renewed attention on the dangers facing passengers who rely on public transport, as authorities continue to call for stronger measures to address the country’s road safety challenges.
