The driver of a Greenline company bus involved in a fatal crash on Sunday night in Karai, Nakuru County, is alleged to have been driving recklessly.
The bus collided head-on with a Nanyuki Cab matatu, killing seven people on the spot, while three others later succumbed to their injuries at Naivasha Sub-County Hospital. Several others were seriously injured
The accident occurred at the same spot where former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo died two weeks ago, reinforcing the area’s reputation as a notorious black spot. That accident brings the total number of deaths reported since the beginning of the year to 27.
Karai–Naivasha accident: Survivors say driver drove recklessly from the start
According to one of the bus passengers, Mr Duncan Kirui, who boarded the vehicle at 2pm on Sunday in Wamono, Bungoma County, the driver had been picking up passengers at various points before reaching Kimilili, where the journey officially began at around 4pm.
Mr Kirui said that a few kilometres into the journey, the driver—whom he alleged appeared drunk and was chewing miraa—began speeding, prompting passengers to raise concerns with the two conductors on board.
Mr Kirui, who had been in seat number two, said one of the conductors attempted to speak to the driver, but he became rude and insisted that he was in control of the vehicle.
The bus made a 30-minute stopover in Eldoret before resuming the journey, and the driver allegedly continued speeding.
“I could see everything he was doing. Before our second stop in Nakuru, the driver, who appeared sleepy, briefly dozed off. We were jolted awake when the bus hit a bump,” Mr Kirui recalled.
He said passengers again raised the alarm with one of the conductors, asking him to persuade the driver to stop and rest briefly before continuing, but their pleas were ignored.
The wreckage of the 11-seater matatu belonging to Nanyuki Cab Shuttle that collided head-on with a Greenline bus at Karai in Naivasha along Nakuru-Nairobi highway on January 04, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
According to Mr Kirui, the driver later made another stop in Naivasha where several passengers, including his cousin, alighted. The remaining passengers compelled him to stop at a nearby restaurant, where he washed his face before resuming the journey.
“We thought he had regained control but he started speeding again. When we reached Karai, a Toyota Premio was joining the highway from a petrol station. Our vehicle was moving fast, when the driver swerved, he rammed into a matatu heading towards Nakuru,” he said.
Two passengers in the matatu survived but remain in critical condition. In the bus, one child died while the rest sustained injuries. Mr Kirui suffered injuries to his leg and face. He was treated and later discharged from Naivasha Sub-County Hospital.
“The bus company abandoned us after the accident. They have not even checked on us. Why have two conductors whose only role appears to be checking receipts? They should also ensure intoxicated drivers are not allowed on the road,” he said.
Another passenger, Ms Dorine Makena, said she was travelling back to Nairobi with her three children aged 11, seven and six after the festive holidays at her in-laws’ home. She said she and nine other passengers boarded the bus in Tulienge area of Bungoma County, when it was carrying about 15 passengers.
According to her, complaints began as early as Cheptais area after passengers noticed the driver was speeding and failing to slow down at bumps.
Possible cause of the crash
Her youngest child sustained serious leg injuries, while the other two children were treated and discharged before travelling back to Nairobi with their father.
“I started complaining soon after boarding when I noticed the bus was very dirty, but I had no option because there were no other vehicles. The last passenger, a woman, alighted just a few metres from the accident scene,” she said.
Nanyuki Cab Shuttle Director of Operations Peter Kinyua said the matatu that was hit had left Nairobi for Nyahururu at 9pm, carrying 11 passengers. Seven people—including the driver and two children—died in the crash.
Mr Kinyua said the driver, Mr Samuel Gakuya, 31, had worked with the company for six years and was disciplined and competent.
Wreckages of a Toyota Hiace Nanyuki Cab Shuttle and a Greenline Bus after they collided head-on, killing 10 of the passengers at Karai in Naivasha, along Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
“It is sad that we have lost one of our own. He was a good driver whom we trusted. We were together on Saturday and promised to see each other on Monday, but now I am here viewing his body,” said Mr Kinyua, adding that the driver suffered multiple injuries.
Naivasha Sub-County Hospital administrator Wachira Mwai, who spoke on behalf of Medical Superintendent Dorcas Murage, confirmed that patients were received at the hospital for treatment following the crash.
“We received 56 patients in the morning—43 adults and 12 children. A total of eight victims—six male and two female have been admitted with various degrees of injuries,” Mr Mwai said.
Nakuru County police boss Emmanuel Epuru said investigations had been launched into the possible cause of the crash.
“So far, no arrest has been made, we have launched investigations to establish who was at fault and after that we will know who was culpable,” Mr Epuru said.
On Monday, the National Transport and Safety Authority conducted safety compliance checks across the country in an effort to tame road crashes.
