The journey from Nyahururu to Nyeri on the evening of March 28, 2026 had been calm, almost routine.
At around 5.30pm, about 20 kilometres to their destination, Henry Gatiba, Chris Wachira and their driver Ken Waweru made a brief stop at a roadside shopping centre.
They bought cans of yoghurt, stretched their legs and prepared for the final leg of the trip.
Moments later back on the road, Gatiba slipped off his shoes, leaned back in his seat and began scrolling through his phone while sipping his drink. It is the last thing he remembers. What followed would leave 16 people dead and several others nursing serious injuries.
An accident scene.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Waweru, the lorry driver, recalls only fragments of the terrifying moments before the crash. As he settled behind the wheel and drove on, he suddenly spotted two cyclists ahead. “I swerved to avoid hitting them,” he said from his hospital bed, his legs bandaged.
The lorry loaded with logs destined for a tea factory in Nyeri veered off course and collided head-on with an oncoming Nissan matatu near Dedan Kimathi University.
The impact was devastating with 10 people dying on the spot while six others succumbed to their injuries at Nyeri County Referral Hospital.
In the mangled wreckage, six people survived.
Gatiba says he remembers hearing a loud bang as he reached for his phone to return a missed call. Then everything went dark.
“I woke up in hospital. It is only by God’s grace that I am alive,” he said quietly.
For Wachira, the moments after the crash were filled with pain and confusion. Trapped in the twisted metal, he drifted in and out of consciousness as voices rose around him.
“I heard people shouting, ‘Let’s save this one, he’s alive’. I touched my face and felt intense pain. Someone started cutting metal to reach me. I screamed because of the pain… but eventually, they pulled me out and brought me here,” he recalled.
Among those who perished were Maureen Wambui and her daughter, Olivia Muthoni, a loss that has left families and communities shattered.
On Tuesday, grief hung heavily over Kabirui-ni Stadium in Nyeri County during an interdenominational funeral service for the victims. Rows of mourners, many clad in black, sat in silence, their faces etched with pain as prayers and tributes filled the air.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki joined bereaved families and local leaders and residents in mourning.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Peninah Wambui struggled to hold back tears.
“This is not an easy moment especially for families that have lost breadwinners. We appreciate everyone who has supported us financially and spiritually,” she said.
Another widow, still grappling with fresh loss, spoke with quiet resignation.
“I lost my husband, David Ndung’u. It is very painful, but we thank God for everything and accept His will,” she said.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga announced that burials would take place over three days urging continued support for the grieving families.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki visits survivors of the Nyeri-Nyahururu Road accident, Nyeri County Referral Hospital, Nyeri County.
Photo credit: DPCS
Beyond the sorrow, the tragedy has reignited urgent calls for road safety reforms.
DP Kindiki noted that many such accidents are preventable, urging motorists to adhere strictly to traffic rules. He also appealed to the Judiciary to lift orders blocking the implementation of an instant fines system introduced by the National Transport and Safety Authority, which relies on speed cameras to curb reckless driving.
“We cannot continue witnessing such loss of life. We hope this will be the last time we gather to mourn so many people from such crashes. We call upon the Judiciary to support us,” he said.
He further directed the Kenya National Highways Authority to redesign the stretch of road near Dedan Kimathi University to include lanes for cyclists , a response to concerns that vulnerable road users remain at high risk along the busy route.
Investigations into the crash are ongoing. Central Regional Traffic Enforcement Officer Elizabeth Vivi said authorities are working to establish the exact cause with the possibility of charges against anyone found culpable.
