At least 48 people were killed and several others were hospitalized in Kericho County following a tragic accident that occurred at Londiani junction on Friday evening.
Rift Vally regional police boss Tom Odera confirmed they had collected 48 bodies and warned the number will rise.
“We have about 48 bodies in mortuaries,” he said.
Regional security teams rushed to the scene following the 6.30 pm accident that occurred after a truck lost control, running over pedestrians, business people, and matatus that were parked by the roadside.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan said 45 died on the spot while others succumbed in hospitals.
He said 30 were injured.
Witnesses said up to 50 people are dead following the accident.
This is because, by early Saturday morning, two bodies were trapped under the truck.
The truck was heading to Kericho before it lost control and veered off the road, ramming into tens of hawkers who were busy along the Nakuru-Kericho highway.
Witnesses said the driver of the truck was trying to avoid hitting a bus that was parked on the road after developing a mechanical hitch before losing control.
Several Nissan matatus were damaged beyond recognition during the evening accident.
Up to nine vehicles were affected.
More than 30 people were rushed to different hospitals in Londiani, Kericho, and Nakuru where they are currently receiving treatment.
Rescue efforts were slowed by heavy rains being witnessed at the scene.
Following the accident, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Saturday, July 1, directed police officers across the country to intensify enforcement of traffic rules.
In a statement, Kindiki ordered the police to arrest all motorists who flaunt traffic rules.
The CS instructed the officers to focus on the condition of vehicles after establishing that Kenyans drive defective and unroadworthy vehicles.
“Police officers across the country are directed to enforce traffic rules firmly and apprehend all offenders flouting traffic rules, including but not limited to those driving defective and unroadworthy motor vehicles,” read the statement in part.
This is the latest fatal accident to happen.
National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) statistics released on Thursday, June 29, show 2,124 people have died in accidents since January 2023.
Most affected were passengers at 729 and motorcyclists at 561.
