Nine passengers killed in road accident at Karai area, Naivasha
At least nine people were killed on Monday morning in a road accident involving a bus and a matatu at Karai area in Naivasha along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
The victims were passengers.
Police said the accident happened on Monday, January 5, at around 2 am after a Greenline bus collided with a 14-seater matatu belonging to Nanyuki Cabs Sacco.
The deceased included two minors. Survivors said the bus was overtaking at the time of the accident when it collided head on with an oncoming van.
Seven people including two minors died on the spot while two others succumbed to the injuries in hospital.
The injured passengers who were about 40 were taken to Naivasha District Hospital for medical attention.
The accident at Karai increased to 18, the number of people who were killed in accidents on Sunday and Monday dawn.
According to the police, the victims included ten passengers, three pedestrians, three drivers, a rider and pedal cyclist. At least 59 other people who included 42 passengers, eight riders, four drivers, three pillion passengers and a pedestrian were seriously wounded. The injured were rushed to hospitals where they are admitted.
The incident caused a jam on the busy highway before police arrived to clear it.
The accident comes days after six people lost their lives in another road crash along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
The accident happened after a trailer rammed onto a matatu at the Kikopey area in Gilgil.
According to eyewitness accounts, the crash was caused by brake failure on the truck, resulting in devastating consequences.
On Friday, January 2, six passengers were killed in another road accident along Mombasa Road at Katumani near Konza City.
The accident involved a bus that collided with a matatu, leaving six passengers dead at the scene and seven others critically injured.
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 National Transport and Safety Authority (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.