Fourteen people have died in three separate accidents in Kiambu and Kirinyaga counties within the last 24 hours.
While 12 died in two separate accidents in Limuru, Kiambu County, two family members lost their lives in Kirinyaga County at 7pm on Thursday night after their pickup truck plunged into the swollen Nyamindi River at Kaboro Bridge in Gichugu Constituency, Kirinyaga County.
Of the 12 that died in Kiambu, seven died on Friday morning at around 8am after a 14-seater matatu belonging to Kijabeline Sacco, which was ferrying passengers from Nairobi to Kijabe, veered off the road at Kamandura junction. The vehicle rolled several times and seven fatalities were reported on the spot.
Survivors were rushed to Tigoni Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
On Thursday night, a private vehicle operating as a public service vehicle suffered a tyre burst, veered off the road, and landed in a ditch, killing three occupants instantly.
Residents on April 10, 2025 search of two family members who died when a vehicle they were travelling in plunged into Nyamindi River at Kaboro, Kirinyaga County.
Photo credit: George Munene | Nation
Two other passengers later succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at Tigoni Hospital.
Limuru Sub-county Police Commander Mary Njoki Gachie told the Nation that police are investigating the incidents and appealed to drivers to exercise caution on the roads.
“We have lost 12 lives in Limuru, Kiambu County, within 24 hours through accidents between Thursday and Friday this week. My appeal to drivers is to be careful on the road because the statistics are really worrying,” she said.
These Kiambu County tragedies come less than two weeks after another family in Limuru lost seven members in a separate accident in Kiambu County.
The victims, who have since been buried, were identified as Peter Kirubi, George Ngugi, and Francis Muturi (brothers), who died alongside Muturi’s three children—Fidelis Waithera, Catherine Wanjiru, and Vitalic James Kirubi—and their farmhand’s child, Limwell Munyaka.
Fidelis was a Form 2 student at Uthiru Girls Secondary School, Catherine was a Grade 7 pupil at Rock Preparatory School, and Vitalic was in Grade 2 at the same school. Limwell was in playgroup at a nearby school.
Meanwhile, two members of the same family died in Kirinyaga County on Thursday night.
The driver of the vehicle lost control of the vehicle while going uphill during heavy rains after its brakes failed. The vehicle was ferrying building timber.
Residents on April 10, 2025 search of two family members who died when a vehicle they were travelling in plunged into Nyamindi River at Kaboro, Kirinyaga County.
Photo credit: George Munene | Nation
It rolled backward and plunged into the river, killing Grace Kithi, a secondary school secretary, and her nephew Vincent Kiura, who was driving the vehicle.
Efforts by police and residents to rescue the two, who were in the driver's cabin, were unsuccessful.
"The three sensed danger when the vehicle started moving backward and jumped, saving their lives," said a witness.
Heavy rains and flooding hampered rescue efforts, with the vehicle completely submerged, causing a major traffic snarl-up along the Mbiri–Njukiini road. The accident occurred around 7 pm.
Kirinyaga East Sub-County Police boss Johnson Wachira said investigations into the incident are ongoing and confirmed recovery efforts were underway.
Ngariama Ward MCA Daniel Muriithi Kibinga described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in recent memory, adding that the family had suffered another loss two years ago when Kithi’s husband, a banker, died after a short illness.
"It is a triple loss for the family," Mr Kibinga said.
Residents said the slippery, untarmacked road contributes to many accidents and urged the government to upgrade it.
