Police Confirm Six Deaths After Lorry Ploughs Into Crowd

Police have confirmed that six people lost their lives and four others sustained serious injuries in a tragic road accident along the Kericho–Kisumu highway.

The tragedy happened on Tuesday, September 16, at around 10 p.m. in the Kipsitet area. 

According to Soin OCPD Lawrence Kisii, the accident occurred when a lorry ferrying scrap metal towards Kisumu veered off the road and ploughed into pedestrians.

Further, he noted that the pedestrians were waiting for transport at a bus stop. 

Four people died on the spot, and two others were seriously injured. However, when they were being rushed to the hospital, they succumbed to their injuries. 

“Four victims died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries as they were being rushed to Kericho County Hospital,” Kisii said.

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Police on the Cause of the Kericho Accident

Kisii explained that the four survivors were admitted to Kericho County Hospital in critical condition.

On the other hand, the bodies of the deceased were moved to the hospital mortuary.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as the lorry veered uncontrollably towards the waiting passengers.

In photos seen online by The Kenya Times, the lorry fell on its side with shattered glass and different types of metal, which were being transported, pouring out of the back. 

Preliminary reports point to possible brake failure or driver fatigue. However, the police have since launched an investigation to establish the cause of the crash. 

The accident caused a traffic snarl-up along the busy Kericho–Kisumu highway as emergency responders worked late into the night to clear the wreckage and attend to the victims.

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NTSA Statistics

This incident adds to the growing number of road accidents reported in the country in recent months.

According to the latest statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), 3,581 fatalities were recorded from June 2024 to March 2025, a 10 per cent increase compared to the 2023/24 financial year. 

Additionally, 8,874 Kenyans incurred serious injuries, while 5,620 sustained slight injuries from road accidents. 

Pedestrians bear the heaviest burden of road fatalities, recording 1,342 deaths, followed by motorcyclists at 939, passengers at 604, pillion passengers at 357, drivers at 285, and pedal cyclists at 54.

Moreover, between January and March 2025, a total of 1,139 people lost their lives in road crashes, marking a 2.5 per cent drop compared to 1,168 fatalities over the same period in 2024.

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