At least five people killed in accident in Kitui
Five people were killed and three others injured after a Mitsubishi lorry veered off the road and landed in a trench in Kitui County.
The accident occurred on September 4, 2026, in the Kasarani area along the Kasala murram road in Ikutha Sub-County.
According to police, the vehicle, registration, was transporting goods to Kasala Market when the accident occurred.
Police said the driver lost control after encountering loose soil on the road. The vehicle swerved off the left side of the road before landing in a nearby trench.
Five passengers died from injuries sustained in the crash.
They were identified as Lilian Simba Mwanzia, 40, Sarah Katumi, 35, and Alex Mwendo, 25, while two other victims were yet to be identified.
The driver sustained chest pain together with three others.
The injured victims were rushed to Ikutha Level IV Hospital for treatment.
Police officers visited the scene and commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The bodies of the five victims were removed and taken to Mutomo Hospital mortuary, where they were booked for preservation and postmortem examination.
Police said up to ten people were Friday killed in separate road accidents in the country. The victims included five passengers, two riders and two pedestrians.
Dozens of people are killed weekly in separate road accidents leaving many families suffering. Road fatalities have continued to rise despite ongoing enforcement and public awareness campaigns. Authorities attribute most crashes to reckless overtaking, speeding and drunk driving, while mechanical defects such as worn-out tyres, faulty brakes and poor vehicle maintenance have also been cited as major contributing factors.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the National Police Service have repeatedly urged motorists to observe traffic rules, maintain roadworthy vehicles and exercise extra caution, particularly on highways and accident-prone sections of the road network in the country.