At least seven people were Monday killed and 11 injured after a truck rammed two matatus at Kikopey, Gilgil, Nakuru County.
Police said the truck was heading towards the Nakuru general direction when the driver lost control of the vehicle before crashing into the matatus heading in the opposite direction, police said.
Gilgil sub county police commander Wilstone Mwakio confirmed that five people died on the spot, while two others succumbed at St. Mary’s hospital in Gilgil.
“The trailer heading to Nakuru veered off its lane and hit two matatus heading towards Gilgil. It then collided with a third matatu and dragged it off the highway into a ditch,” said Mwakio.
He said that the container toppled over the matatu, crashing it and the passengers.
“From the three matatus, seven parnle died on the spot. Eleven others were left with injuries and were rushed to different hospitals in the area,” he said.
The first responders recounted the difficulty they had in rescuing the victims who were trapped in the wreckage, some under the weight of the loaded 40 feet container.
“It appears the driver was distracted and left his lane as this section of the highway was clear. Those who survived had serious fractures and some limbs severed,” said John Githua, a witness said.
The whereabouts of the trailer driver were not immediately established, with the responders claiming he escaped after the accident while police say he be among those injured in hospital.
“We were inside one of the matatus when the trailer lost control and came to the wrong side,” said a survivor.
Simon Kosgei, an eye witness, said that trailer drivers should be vetted and monitored due to the rising road carnage they are involved in due to careless driving.
Residents expressed concerns over the frequent accidents along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
Just two weeks ago, multiple accidents along the same stretch claimed the lives of six people.
“Drivers are tired as they come from Mombasa heading to Malaba.
The road should be expanded because we are witnessing so many accidents from here,” said Douglas Waweru.
On January 5, 2026, ten people died after a bus belonging to Greenline Company collided head with a 14 seater matatu at Kayole in Naivasha.
The survivors who escaped with injuries blamed the accident on the bus driver whom they accused of speeding.
On January 3, 2026, six people died on the spot while nine people were injured after a trailer rammed a matatu and another stationary trailer at Kekopey area in Gilgil.
Fatal accidents have been on the rise amid efforts to address them.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
