A tragic accident on the Sagana-Karatina highway has claimed the life of a woman and left several others badly injured.
The incident occurred when a 14-seater matatu, ferrying passengers towards Karatina, lost control and rolled near Kiangwaci.
Witnesses report that the woman died on the spot, while the injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.
The police are now conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, which has left the community in shock. Authorities suspect speed may have played a role, given the nature of the accident, though further details are awaited.
Vehicles plying the Thika Super Highway in Nairobi County on March 6, 2020.
Photo
KeNHA
This tragedy comes just days after another fatal incident along the same highway. A mother and her nine-year-old son were killed when a speeding milk pickup truck, en route to Karatina from Sagana, ploughed into them as they waited for a school bus.
The driver later turned himself in at Kiangwaci Police Station, according to local police officials.
The Sagana-Karatina road is fast gaining a reputation as a dangerous stretch, with numerous fatal accidents reported in recent months.
According to data from the National Police Service (NPS), road accidents have claimed 3,369 lives between January and September 16 this year alone. Pedestrians make up the largest portion of fatalities, totalling 1,281, followed by motorcyclists at 825, passengers at 654, and 281 drivers.
The total number of road accidents in the country has surged in 2024. As of August 27, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) recorded 7,114 accidents, up from 6,411 during the same period last year. These accidents have affected 15,651 individuals, with 3,056 fatalities and 12,586 people suffering injuries, some of which are life-altering.
The rising death toll has drawn sharp concern from senior government officials. Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli has decried the increasing road carnage, calling for stricter enforcement of traffic laws to reverse the deadly trend. He stressed the need for public cooperation, urging Kenyans to adhere to traffic rules and be more cautious on the roads.
“We must work together to prevent these senseless losses of life,” Masengeli stated, warning that corruption within the Traffic Unit is also being addressed.
Images of the matatu rolled over along the Nairobi-Embu highway. PHOTO/Kenya Police Welfare
