At least 13 people lost their lives, and 11 others sustained serious injuries following a devastating road accident involving three vehicles along the Sotik-Kericho Highway in the Cheptangulke area of Bomet County.
The accident, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, involved a personal vehicle, a 14-seater matatu, and a truck. Witnesses reported a horrifying scene as the vehicles collided, killing several passengers on the spot and leaving others trapped in the mangled wreckage.
Emergency response teams, including officers from the Kenya Red Cross Society, local police, and county rescue units, responded swiftly to the scene. The injured were pulled from the debris and rushed to nearby hospitals, including Kaplong Mission Hospital, for urgent medical treatment.
Bomet Governor Dr. Hillary Barchok, while confirming the incident, expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of lives and lauded the rapid response by the emergency teams.
“Deeply saddened to learn of a grisly road accident that has happened on the Sotik-Kericho Highway at Cheptangulke, Sotik Sub County. The 3-car accident has led to some fatalities and some serious injuries,” Governor Barchok said in a statement.
“Rescue teams from Kaplong Mission Hospital, the County Governments of Bomet and Kericho, the Kenya Red Cross and the Kenya Police have evacuated the injured to nearby hospitals to receive urgent medical attention,” he added.
Photos and videos shared online painted a grim picture of the aftermath. The matatu involved was extensively damaged—its windscreen shattered, seats twisted, windows broken, and tyres deflated. The truck, reportedly white in color, was seen leaning sideways across the road, with severe front-end damage. The personal car involved was completely wrecked.
The cause of the accident is yet to be officially confirmed, although preliminary reports point to possible speeding and reckless driving.
This tragic incident comes amid a worrying spike in road accidents across the country. Just hours earlier, 13 people were injured along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway when a Tahmeed bus allegedly suffered brake failure and rammed into several vehicles, including a matatu. Passengers claim the driver jumped out of the moving bus moments before the impact.
In light of these disturbing trends, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Thursday, April 3, issued an urgent advisory calling for enhanced road safety measures during the Easter holiday period.
“In the past, the country witnessed cases of reckless driving, distractions by students, and unfortunately, some of the incidents led to fatal and serious injuries,” NTSA said.
“Through close collaboration with law enforcement, parents, school management, transport service providers and school children, such incidents can be prevented,” the authority added.
The NTSA has vowed to work with the National Police Service (NPS) to intensify crackdowns on rogue drivers and non-compliant vehicles during this high-traffic season.
As the nation mourns yet another avoidable tragedy, the call for stricter enforcement of road safety laws and responsible driving grows louder.
