At least 21 people have died in separate road accidents across Kenya in less than 24 hours, renewing concerns over the country's rising road carnage and the growing number of fatalities on major highways and notorious black spots.
The latest tragedy occurred at about 6am on Saturday along the Kimbimbi-Ngurubani Road in Kirinyaga County, where eight people died in a horrific collision involving a tuk-tuk and a parcel truck.
Most of the victims were casual labourers travelling to rice fields in Mwea for planting when the accident occurred at Murubara village in Mwea East Constituency.
The impact left the tuk-tuk mangled, trapping the occupants inside. Rescuers used electric hacksaws to cut through the wreckage and retrieve the bodies as grieving relatives and residents watched.
According to Mwea East Sub-County Police Commander Stephen Okal, the truck, which was travelling from Ngurubani towards Embu, veered into the oncoming lane after the driver attempted to avoid a pothole, colliding head-on with the tuk-tuk carrying seven workers.
Five occupants of the tuk-tuk died on the spot while two others succumbed to their injuries after being rushed to Kimbimbi Level Four Hospital. The force of the impact caused the truck to lose control and hit two pedestrians, killing them instantly. The tuk-tuk driver was also among those killed.
The truck driver, who sustained minor injuries, was arrested and is expected to be charged after investigations.
"We have arrested the driver of the truck, who was slightly injured, and we shall charge him in court once investigations are complete," Mr Okal said.
"It was a fatal accident which left us reeling in shock," said Bishop Carson Maina, who was among the first responders and helped rescue survivors.
"I was coming from a night prayer meeting at around 6am when I stumbled upon the accident. It was a bad accident," he said.
Another witness, Martin Njogu, said he heard a loud bang before rushing to the scene.
"I was working just a few metres from the scene when I heard a loud sound. I abandoned what I was doing and ran there. I was shocked to see bodies scattered on the road," he said.
The bodies were taken to Kerugoya Level Five Hospital mortuary, while the damaged vehicles were towed to Wang'uru Police Station.
Hours earlier, one person was killed and four others seriously injured in a multi-vehicle crash at Mlima Nugu along the Narok-Mai Mahiu Highway shortly after midnight.
Police said a truck travelling from Mai Mahiu towards Narok lost control and landed in a ditch. A bus travelling behind it rammed into the truck's cabin before colliding with an oncoming Toyota Probox.
A female passenger died at the scene while four others were admitted to Narok County Referral Hospital with serious injuries.
The wreckage was towed to Ntulele Police Station as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
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.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
The two accidents came barely hours after another 12 people were killed in separate crashes on Thursday night.
Sombre scenes and rising tension played out at Tarakwa Police Station on Friday and Saturday as grief-stricken family members flocked to the station, where the wreckage of vehicles involved in the Thursday night road crash along the busy Eldoret–Nakuru highway had been towed.
The accident, which occurred at the notorious Mlima Punda black spot, claimed the lives of seven people on the spot.
Those who died included two students travelling home to Western Kenya for the school holidays and the driver of the public service vehicle (PSV).
Relative after relative stood in the station yard, overwhelmed by emotion beside the twisted wreckage of the 14-seater Blue Line Shuttle matatu and the heavy transit truck involved in the collision.
Among those mourning at the station were relatives of the deceased matatu driver, Paul Ashiundu, who vehemently defended his track record on the road. Describing him as a devoted family man and a cautious motorist, his family expressed shock over the sudden tragedy.
"My father was not a novice driver. He was an incredibly experienced driver with more than 20 years on the road without a single major incident," said a heartbroken Cynthia Ashiundu, daughter of the deceased driver. "He knew this highway like the back of his hand. To lose him like this is devastating for the entire family."
Her sentiments were echoed by her mother, Janet Ashiundu, who described her husband as a sober driver with a passion for his job and his passengers.
Ms Ashiundu said her husband had never been involved in an accident since he started working as a driver in his youth.
"It is unfortunate that the first time my husband was involved in a major accident was the one that claimed his life. It is painful for my family. He was the sole breadwinner," she said.
For the families of the passengers, including parents expecting their children home for the holidays, the reality at the police station was too much to bear.
"They were just on their way home. We were waiting to welcome them with open arms, only to be called here to collect their belongings," said Rev Kizito Imbiakha, a relative of one of the deceased.
Management officials from Blue Line Shuttle attributed the fatal collision to reckless driving by heavy transit trucks and what they termed systemic failure in traffic law enforcement along the Northern Corridor.
A senior manager from the shuttle company insisted the crash was entirely avoidable if the truck driver had remained in his lane.
"This accident could have been avoided entirely if the truck driver had simply stayed in his lane. Most of these heavy transit vehicles are owned by powerful politicians and tycoons, and police treat them with complete impunity," said Shadrack Koech, Blue Line Sacco's security officer.
Mr Koech alleged selective enforcement by traffic officers along the highway, accusing them of harassing PSV operators while turning a blind eye to dangerous truck drivers.
"Officers hardly enforce traffic rules against transit truck drivers. Instead, they harass matatu drivers to extort bribes while heavy trucks freely violate lane discipline and endanger lives," he said.
The Mlima Punda stretch near Lessos remains one of the deadliest black spots along the Eldoret–Nakuru highway. Following Thursday night's tragedy, local residents and transport operators renewed calls for stricter speed enforcement, proper lane demarcation and an end to corruption in traffic enforcement.
"The Kenya National Highways Authority must review the design of this road. Accidents are common here, and traffic police officers must crack down on trailer drivers, many of whom ignore the steep descent and drive recklessly," said Lilian Jepkoech, a fast-food vendor at Nabkoi Junction, a few kilometres from the accident scene.
In the Eldoret accident, seven people, including two students travelling home for the holidays, died at the notorious Mlima Punda black spot along the Eldoret-Nakuru Highway after a truck attempting to overtake collided head-on with two passenger matatus.
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.
In Marsabit County, five people lost their lives after one trailer rammed into another at Kargi Junction along the Isiolo-Moyale road. Four victims died on the spot while another succumbed to injuries in hospital.
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.
The latest fatalities come just days after two pupils died and 49 others, including four teachers and a driver, were injured when a school bus overturned at Ngumba along the Mikinduri-Kunati road in Meru County as learners returned from an educational trip.
-By George Munene, Vitalis Kimutai, Titus Ominde And David Muchui
