At least nine people have been confirmed dead in a tragic accident on Friday, January 3, 2025.
The nine perished after a matatu plying the Eldoret-Kitale route collided head-on with a lorry at the Chemoset area in Soy.
The incident was confirmed by Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi who stated that four other passengers sustained injuries.
He added that the injured passengers were rushed to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for treatment.
Mwanthi said it is suspected that the matatu was travelling at high speed before veering off its lane, causing the accident.
The accident, as described by witnesses, left several passengers trapped in the mangled wreckage of the matatu.
Nine Dead After Matatu Collides Head-On with Lorry Along Eldoret-Kitale Road
According to eyewitnesses, the matatu registered ander Great Rift Sacco, was headed to Eldoret, while that truck was en route to Kitale.
The crash occurred on a narrow section of the highway, a known risk area for motorists.
Social media users, responding to the tragic accident, have decried the condition of the B2 Eldoret-Kitale road.
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Many pointed out that the road is narrow, riddled with potholes, and has been poorly patched since independence.
“Road to my hometown. It’s such a narrow road, two buses can barely pass each other without one either stopping or going off road,” Kevin Nabali said.
“It has no shoulders and its full of patches and potholes making the whole Maili Tisa-Kitale stretch very bumpy and a headache to drive. Condolences to the bereaved.”
Social Media Users Decry Poor Road Conditions
Shem Vilembwa shared his frustration, calling the Eldoret-Kitale road, along with the Eldoret-Kisumu Road, the worst in Kenya.
“I have been traveling to and from Kitale for the last 7 years, and it’s a pity if you use the main road,” he said.
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He also noted that there are no diversions in case of a major traffiuc jam, like the one caused by the recent accident.
Also Read: 3 Dead in Boxing Day Accident Involving Matatu and Boda Boda
Another user Sakul Bin Makhunuth opined, “I have been using the road, it’s marked yellow line all the way from almost Eldoret to kitale. Most drivers forget this on reaching the same road.”
“Potholes or narrow roads are not certificates for making an accident. The road is innocent. It doesn’t have brains…we have.”
Others have called out drivers for overspeeding on the said roads, urging them to exercise caution and adhere to speed limits.
“The impact seems that speed was also high. Much as the road is pothole ridden, drivers need to be extremely cautious on where to speed, how to speed and when to speed,” Conrad Oronyi said.
“All blame goes to the drivers, the useless bodies that manage our transport system and the clueless ministry. Roads are not the issue we (drivers) are the problem.”
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