Several people are feared to have died following two separate road accidents in different parts of the country involving a bus and the other involving several trucks.
In the first incident, a Kensilver Company bus that was heading to Nairobi overturned at a notorious blackspot after its brakes reportedly failed.
The accident happened on April 7, 2024, at the Nithi bridge along the Meru – Embu highway.
Photos seen by The Kenya Times showed the bus completely overturned as well-wishers tried to help the passengers evacuate the wreckage of the bus.
Elsewhere, at least five people are also feared dead, and several others injured following a tragic road accident involving several vehicles at the Hill Tea Area, Timboroa along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.
The accident which happened around 4pm on Saturday, April 6, 2024, is said to have involved at least six trucks.
Reports further indicated that the weather was rainy when the accident involving multiple trucks happened.
Traffic Snarl Up
Following the accident, traffic snarl up along the busy highway was witnessed, with authorities taking time to respond and clear the road.
“Serious traffic on Salgaa to Timboroa. We left Kitale at 7pm, not reached Nakuru yet at 4.18am,” said a social media user who was using the highway.
Photos seen by The Kenya Times showed a number of trucks involved in the accident stalled on the road and besides the main road indicating the impact of the crash.
Also, other photos showed a trail of other vehicles both Public Service Vehicles (PSV) and personal vehicles on the side of the road indicating traffic snarl up.
Also Read: Deaths Reported as Eldoret Express Bus Rams into a Tanker
These two accidents are among a number of road crashes that have been recorded during in recent times after three people were also left dead on April 6 morning in Kikuyu along the same highway after the bus, they were travelling in collided with a trailer.
Kikuyu Police Commander Ronald Kirui while confirming the accident reported that the Eldoret Express Company 62-seater bus rammed into a fuel tanker that had stalled on the road due to mechanical issues.
Road Accidents
On the other hand, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has warned that the heavy rains currently experienced in most parts of the country create potentially dangerous conditions for road users.
NTSA issued the warning in an update on April 4, 2024, while issuing cautionary measures for motorists during the rainy season.
Also Read: NTSA Confirms Deaths & Spike in Road Accidents in 2024
The Authority urged the public to be extra vigilant, courteous, and cognizant of their safety as well as look out for vulnerable road users including children, pedestrians among others.
“With increased rainfall, the Authority cautions road users that after the recent dry weather there is accumulation of dirt, soil, and oil deposits. We advise motorists to reduce their speed, since these deposits lead to formation of slippery surfaces making stopping more difficult thus raising the possibility of losing control,” said NTSA.
Additionally, NTSA made an appeal to motorists urging them to avoid driving through flash floods, flooded roads, and flood riverbeds, and to ensure that they drive slowly after going through water to aid in brakes-drying,
According to statistics from the authority, road accidents across the country have claimed at least 1,189 lives since the beginning of the year to April 1, 2024, an increase compared to the same period in 2023 where deaths from crashes stood at 1,129.
On the other hand, 3,316 have been left seriously injured and 2,693 suffered from minor injuries compared to 2,435, and at least 1,726 within the same period in 2023.
