Six people have been confirmed dead and at least ten others injured following a grisly road accident that occurred Friday evening at Kijauri Shopping Centre along the Kisii-Sotik highway.
According to authorities, the accident involved a lorry, a public service Nissan matatu, and a saloon car.
The lorry, which was reportedly headed to Sotik from Keroka Town, lost control while descending a steep slope and rammed into the two stationary vehicles before veering off the road and crashing into roadside kiosks.
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Borabu Sub-County Traffic Police Commander Wycliffe Kundu said the lorry was heavily loaded with logs of wood, likely destined for a nearby tea factory.
He added that the impact was devastating and left multiple victims trapped under the wreckage.
“The driver lost control of the lorry while navigating the steep stretch near the bridge and Nyansiongo Factory junction. He hit two vehicles parked along the roadside and then plunged into nearby kiosks,” said Mr. Kundu.
Of the ten people injured, three sustained life-threatening injuries and were rushed to Kaplong Mission Hospital and Nyamira County Referral Hospital for critical care.
Others were taken to various health facilities in Nyamira and Bomet Counties.
Eyewitnesses at the scene recounted the horror, noting that the lorry appeared to be speeding as it descended the slope.
Local residents decried the poor safety conditions at the location, which they described as an unmarked black spot.
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“This stretch has claimed many lives, yet there are no warning signs or speed control measures. We are tired of mourning,” said one resident.
Kundu urged all motorists using the Kisii-Sotik road to be vigilant, especially during the rainy season. “The area is a black spot, and all road users must exercise extra caution,” he added.
This latest tragedy comes just weeks after another fatal accident along the same highway, where three people died near Keroka Town — only a few kilometres from Kijauri.
That accident involved a Nissan matatu and a motorcycle. The matatu lost control while descending the Ichuni lane, struck a motorcyclist and his passenger, and ended up in a ditch, killing a pedestrian as well.
In the wake of the back-to-back crashes, Masaba North Sub-county Bodaboda Chairman Dominic Babu has called for immediate intervention.
He blamed unregulated roadside trading for contributing to the chaos on the highway.
“Traders have built stalls dangerously close to the road, posing risks to both motorists and pedestrians. These structures must be moved, and stricter regulations enforced,” Babu said.
He further urged the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to erect adequate road signage and implement preventive measures to enhance safety along the highway.
As families mourn their loved ones, pressure is mounting on government agencies to act swiftly and prevent further loss of life on this increasingly perilous stretch of road.
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