Premium
Deadly night on Kenya's roads leaves 12 dead in Eldoret, Marsabit
A wreckage of a matatu which was involved in an accident with a truck, and also a private vehicle at Mlima Punda near Nabkoi on the Eldoret-Nakuru highway in Uasin Gishu County on Thursday night, after it was towed to Tarakwa Police Station in Burnt Forest on July 31, 2026.
What you need to know:
- In Uasin Gishu, two students were among the seven people who perished in a grisly road accident at Mlima Punda black spot.
- Five other people died in an accident involving two trailers at Kargi Junction, about 10 kilometres from Marsabit town.
Road accidents across the country claimed 12 lives on Thursday night as the country continues to record more road deaths driven by rising highway collisions and reckless driving.
In Uasin Gishu, two students were among the seven people who perished in a grisly road accident at the notorious Mlima Punda black spot along the Eldoret-Nakuru highway.
The 9.30pm Thursday accident involved three vehicles—a heavy goods transit truck and two passenger matatus.
"Seven people died on the spot, including two students travelling home for the holidays," said Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Wilberforce Sicharani.
He said the truck was descending the Mlima Punda hill from Nakuru towards Eldoret when the driver attempted to overtake.
"The truck rammed into the two oncoming matatus, which were travelling towards Nakuru. The driver of one of the matatus and six occupants died instantly," added Mr Sicharani.
The injured were rushed to Burnt Forest Hospital and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret for treatment.
The bodies were moved to the MTRH mortuary pending identification and post-mortem examinations.
The wreckage of the three vehicles was towed to Tarakwa Police Station as traffic officers launched investigations into the cause of the accident.
Wreckage at the scene where five people died after two trucks collided at Kargi Junction, Marsabit, along the Isiolo - Moyale road at 4am.
Meanwhile, five other people died in an accident involving two trailers at Kargi Junction, about 10 kilometres from Marsabit town, along the Isiolo-Moyale road.
Marsabit County Police Commander Leonard Kimaiyo said the 4am accident occurred after a trailer rammed into the rear of another trailer.
Both trailers, which were transporting beans, were travelling from Moyale towards Marsabit town.
"Four people died on the spot while another succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at Marsabit County Teaching and Referral Hospital. We are investigating the cause of the fatal accident," Mr Kimaiyo said.
The bodies were moved to the Marsabit County Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.
The fatal accidents came a day after two pupils died and 49 others were injured after a bus they were travelling in overturned at Ngumba area along the Mikinduri-Kunati road in Meru County on Wednesday night.
Meru County Traffic Commander Osman Hassan said four teachers and the driver sustained injuries in the accident.
The pupils were returning home after an educational trip to Meru Museum.
According to residents, the accident scene is a black spot that has claimed several lives over the years.
Follow ourWhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
