Six family members killed after vehicle plunges into Kiama River in Murang’a

At least six people from Ndia village in Kariara Ward, Gatanga Constituency, died after the matatu they were travelling in lost control and plunged into the Kiama River.

Six others escaped with injuries and were rushed to hospital, police said of the Sunday dawn incident.

The victims were members of the same extended family returning from a dowry ceremony in Nazareth area of Kiambu County.

Among the deceased were a husband and wife, police said.

The accident occurred at Wacengu Bridge on the River Kiama on Sunday, October 26.

The white minivan was reportedly ferrying the individuals from Kahunyo village to a family event.

The survivors were taken to Kirwara Hospital and Murang’a Level 5 Hospital.

On Saturday, a head-on collision between a bus and a private vehicle happened at around 4am at Soysambu near Gilgil along the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway leaving six people dead.

The incident increased to 23, the number of people killed in separate accidents on since Saturday, police said.

They included 12 passengers, four pedestrians, four riders, two pillion passengers and a driver.

Police said 30 others were injured in the period and included 15 passengers, seven drivers, four pedestrians, three riders and a pillion passenger.

Police said they are investigating the incidents.

The bodies were taken to separate mortuaries pending autopsies and other investigations.

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 the 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.

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.

There is a campaign to address the menace.

This comes ahead of the festive season.