At least eight people including a minor were on Saturday night killed in a road accident at Bw’arani area near Ekerenyo along Kericho-Nyamira road.
Police said the accident a shuttle and a trailer.
The shuttle was ferrying passengers from Nairobi when the incident happened Saturday, police said.
Five passengers died on the spot while the others succumbed to the injuries in hospital.
Police said the victims’ bodies were moved to the mortuary pending other procedures.
Governor Amos Nyaribo visited passengers who survived the accident that claimed the lives of the eight. Eight other victims are currently receiving treatment at the County Referral Hospital, where they were admitted.
Police said they are investigating the incident. The families of the victims rushed to the scene and local hospitals in search for their loved ones.
The victims were among more than 20 people who were killed in separate accidents in the country on Saturday alone, police said.
They included 17 passengers, six pedestrians, three riders and two drivers and two pedestrians.
Police said 36 others were injured in the accidents and were taken to various hospitals. They included 15 passengers, seven riders, six pillion passengers and four pedestrians and four drivers.
The accidents have a negative impact on the society at large. Those with injuries will leave many families struggling.
They come at a time when there is concern over increased accidents in the country. At least 4,458 were killed in separate road accidents between January and December 2025, data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) show.
By December 2, a total of 4,458 people had lost their lives on the roads, surpassing last year’s figure of 4,311 recorded by end of year.
The statistics highlight the growing menace on the roads with pedestrians continuing to bear the greatest burden, with 1,685 deaths recorded.
Drivers accounted for 403 deaths, while 723 passengers perished in various crashes involving private vehicles, buses, and matatus.
The high number of passenger fatalities raises concerns about speeding, overloading, and non-compliance with safety regulations among public service vehicles.
Motorcycle-related fatalities also remained alarmingly high. At least 1,148 motorcyclists died, along with 432 pillion passengers, underlining the continued risks associated with boda boda transport in period. Some 67 pedal cyclists died in the period, NTSA said.
NTSA has urged road users to exercise caution. Officials say reckless overtaking, speeding, and drunk driving remain among the leading causes of road accidents across the country, continuing to claim lives despite sustained public safety campaigns by NTSA.
Mechanical failures from poorly maintained vehicles, including worn tyres and faulty brakes, have also been identified as significant contributors to the growing number of crashes. In addition to driver negligence, poor road conditions—such as potholes, confusing signage, and inadequate lighting—make travel increasingly hazardous, particularly at night.
Furthermore, poor enforcement of traffic laws, coupled with some incidents of corruption at roadblocks, has allowed traffic offenders to operate with impunity, further worsening the problem on Kenyan roads.
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