At least nine people were killed in a tragic road accident early Monday morning after a bus collided with a matatu at the Karai area of Naivasha along the busy Nairobi–Nakuru highway.
According to police, the crash occurred at around 2 a.m. on Monday, January 5, involving a bus travelling from Nakuru to Nairobi and a 14-seater matatu heading in the opposite direction. Seven people, including two minors, died on the spot, while two others later succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment in hospital.
Several passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to Naivasha District Hospital, where some remain admitted. Police said investigations have been launched to establish the exact cause of the accident.
The Karai section of the highway has previously been identified by authorities as a high-risk accident zone, with multiple safety campaigns conducted to warn motorists to exercise caution.
Police further revealed that the Karai crash contributed to a total of 18 fatalities recorded in road accidents between Sunday and Monday morning. The victims included passengers, pedestrians, drivers, a motorcycle rider and a pedal cyclist.
During the same period, at least 59 other people were injured in separate road crashes across the country. Those injured included passengers, riders, drivers, pillion passengers and a pedestrian, all of whom were taken to various hospitals for treatment.
The latest tragedy comes just days after six people were killed in another accident along the Nairobi–Nakuru highway at the Kikopey area in Gilgil, where a trailer collided with a matatu. In a separate incident reported on Friday, January 2, six passengers lost their lives along Mombasa Road at Katumani near Konza City after a bus rammed into a matatu, leaving seven others critically injured.
Authorities have once again urged motorists to observe traffic rules and exercise caution on the roads, warning that road accidents remain a major public safety concern despite ongoing awareness campaigns by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). Police said investigations into the recent accidents are ongoing.
