Thirteen people lost their lives and three others, including two children, were left fighting for their lives after a catastrophic road accident near Kikopey, Gilgil, along the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway on Sunday afternoon.
The grisly scene was confirmed by Nakuru County Police Commander Emmanuel Opuru, who stated that a 14-seater Public Service Vehicle (PSV) matatu collided head-on with a semi-trailer truck.
CCTV Confirms Reckless Overtaking
The tragedy was rooted in a fatal moment of impatience, which was chillingly captured on surveillance video. CCTV footage surfaced showing the exact moment the crash occurred, just minutes past noon.
According to Police Commander Opuru, the investigation, corroborated by the video evidence, found that the matatu was overtaking a smaller vehicle when it rammed directly into the path of the oncoming trailer. The subsequent impact was immense, causing both vehicles to veer off the road and instantly claiming the lives of nearly everyone on board the matatu.
Matatu Hired for a Family Function
Preliminary reports indicate the matatu had been hired in Nairobi and was transporting a group to Nakuru to attend a family function. This detail compounds the tragedy, suggesting that the deceased were likely members of the same extended family or friends traveling together.
Only three passengers—two of them children—survived the head-on crash, sustaining serious injuries.
Following the devastating incident, police moved the bodies of the 13 deceased victims to the Gilgil Sub-County Hospital mortuary. The three injured survivors are currently receiving treatment at the same facility. The wreckage caused a major traffic snarl-up on the busy highway as police launched official investigations into the reckless driving incident.
The crash has reignited urgent national concerns over the persistent issue of lane indiscipline and the devastating consequences of careless overtaking on Kenyan highways.
