6 Killed in Another Night Accident on Major Highway

Six people have been confirmed dead after an accident involving a lorry and a private (Toyota Probox) car around the Duka Moja area along the Kericho-Nakuru highway on Monday (evening), April 8, 2024.

According to the regional traffic commandant Dorothy Muleke, the Probox was overtaking a fleet of vehicles and got into a head-on collision with the lorry.

Six passengers aboard the private vehicle at the time of the accident died on the spot while one was rushed to Kericho County Referral Hospital in critical condition.

“Six people were killed in a head-on collision between a truck and a Toyota Probox vehicle,” Rift Valley police commander Tom Odero told the media.

The Probox was travelling from Nakuru towards Kericho while the lorry was moving in the opposite direction.

The accident occurred at around 7:30pm with the police commander adding that it was raining heavily in the area at that time.

The deceased included three male and three female passengers while the number of injured is yet to be confirmed.

Besides, the driver of the Probox was among the people killed while the driver of the lorry escaped after the accident.

The accident adds to the increasing number of traffic road accidents witnessed in the country since the beginning of the year.

Also Read: NTSA Confirms Deaths & Spike in Road Accidents in 2024

NTSA Accident Statistics 2024

Data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) show that 1,108 Kenyans have been killed in road accidents between January and April 1, 2024.

NTSA Director General George Njao listed speeding and drunk driving as the leading causes of accidents.

“If you look at most of the accidents that have occurred, for example in Nairobi County and the urban areas, the National Police can attest that they can happen at night. They are usually related to speed and alcohol that we are trying to address,” he noted.

According to the statistics, 1,189 fatalities have been reported and 2,693 have been slightly injured in 2024.

This is an increase compared to 1,129 fatalities and 1,726 slight injuries recorded during the same period in 2023.

Also Read: NTSA Announces New Measures After Surge in Road Accidents

Murkomen’s Technology

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, on his part, said the government was mulling the introduction of a new technology to reduce the number of road accidents in Kenya.

Speaking on April 4, Murkomen said the government will install Vehicular Telematics starting with school buses to reduce accidents.

Murkomen said all school buses and other vehicles will be required to install the technology once it is launched by the government.

“I announced that we are going to apply technology by making sure that all of our vehicles starting with school buses, we are going to fit them with Vehicular Telematics,” Murkomen said.

He explained that the technology will determine how students and school transport is going to be managed.

Murkomen said the technology is created in partnership with Safaricom which is finalizing the required standards to develop the right telematics for vehicles in the country.