12 killed in Nakuru crash as matatu, lorry collide on Njoro-Elburgon road
As morning broke on Friday, grief-stricken families and friends of the victims gathered at a local mortuary where the bodies were taken.
A dark cloud hung over Arimi in Nakuru County on Thursday night after a road crash claimed the lives of 12 people. The crash involved a 14-seater matatu and a lorry and happened on the Njoro-Elburgon Road, a section marked as a danger zone by authorities.
According to traffic officers, the driver of the matatu lost control of the vehicle and it collided head-on with the lorry.
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“The driver is said to have lost control of the matatu before the crash happened, leaving 12 passengers dead. We are investigating the tragedy which happened about 7 pm,” said Traffic Commandant Fredrick Ochieng.
Two other passengers survived the crash but were seriously injured and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The mangled wreckage of the vehicles showed the force of the collision.
Black spot
The Arimi area, where the crash occurred, has been listed for years as a black spot due to the high number of crashes reported there. Drivers and motorcyclists who use the route regularly are always advised to be extra careful.
As morning broke on Friday, grief-stricken families and friends of the victims gathered at a local mortuary where the bodies were taken. They helped with identification ahead of planned post-mortems.
The mood at the mortuary was heavy as relatives struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss. The process of preparing for burial began as officials coordinated with families.
Road crashes on the rise
This latest tragedy adds to a long list of fatal road crashes recorded across Kenya this year.
Road safety officials and police are increasingly concerned about the growing number of deaths on the roads.
In 2024 alone, police data shows that 4,282 people died in road crashes between January and November. This marks an increase from 3,901 recorded deaths during the same months in 2023.
By the end of November 2024, a total of 21,620 crashes had been reported, up from 20,191 crashes recorded the previous year. Authorities say more needs to be done to reverse the trend.
The National Transport and Safety Authority attributes many fatal crashes to issues such as drivers losing control of vehicles, tyre bursts, hit-and-run incidents, improper overtaking, and failure to maintain lanes.
These risky behaviours often lead to crashes like the one seen in Arimi.
Safety campaigns continue across the country, but officials say more public awareness and stricter enforcement are still needed.
To help reduce fatalities, police are working together with other government bodies to improve road safety through education, inspections, and law enforcement.
The government has been urging drivers to take extra caution, especially at known black spots, to avoid further tragedies.
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