Eleven people have been confirmed dead and two others seriously injured after a 14-seater matatu collided with a stalled trailer at Kariandusi near Gilgil on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway on Saturday morning. The speeding matatu lost control and rammed into the trailer, killing 10 on the spot while another succumbed en route to hospital. Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Winston Mwakio has confirmed the incident.
The accident occurred on Saturday morning when a speeding matatu lost control and rammed into a trailer that had broken down and stalled along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Winston Mwakio stated that the collision's impact was severe, killing 10 matatu occupants on the spot, with the death toll rising to 11 after another succumbed while being rushed to hospital.
Witness accounts indicate only two people survived and were taken to a nearby facility.
Rescue teams, including police officers and local residents, recovered the 11 bodies from the wreckage before clearing the scene.
Images circulating on social media showed the matatu extensively damaged at the front, with traffic temporarily disrupted on the busy route.
The highway links Nairobi and Nakuru and has witnessed several accidents in recent years.
The crash comes days after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) issued a warning to drivers against reckless driving during the Easter holidays.
NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa announced a crackdown in partnership with the National Police Service, targeting unsafe vehicles and behaviors like speeding and drunk driving.
"Ensure you park safely off the road and place warning triangles if your vehicle breaks down," Kondiwa said.
