At least five people, including two drivers, have lost their lives following a tragic road accident involving a lorry and a tractor along the busy Eldoret-Nakuru Highway.
The fatal crash occurred on Tuesday, June 22, at the Chirchir area near Matharu Centre, a few kilometres from Burnt Forest in Uasin Gishu County.
Confirming the incident, Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Wilberforce Sicharani said police officers were immediately dispatched to the scene to manage the situation and commence investigations.
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“We have lost five people in the accident, and our officers are still at the scene trying to handle the situation,” Sicharani said.
According to preliminary investigations, the lorry, which was travelling from Nakuru towards Eldoret, is suspected to have developed brake failure before colliding head-on with an oncoming tractor.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the impact of the collision was severe, causing the tractor to overturn and crush several loaders who were travelling aboard it.
The tractor sustained extensive damage, while the accident claimed the lives of five people on the spot.
The deceased are reported to be all male and include the drivers of both vehicles.
Their bodies were moved to a mortuary in Eldoret pending identification, postmortem examinations, and other necessary procedures.
The accident also caused a major traffic snarl-up along the busy highway as emergency responders worked to clear the wreckage and restore normal traffic flow.
“It caused a huge traffic jam. Motorists were delayed for over an hour before the road was cleared. The accident happened near Chirchir Senior School,” an eyewitness said.
Images shared online showed large crowds gathering at the scene as police officers and emergency personnel coordinated rescue and recovery efforts.
Police have since launched investigations to establish the exact cause of the accident and determine whether other factors may have contributed to the deadly crash.
The latest tragedy adds to the growing concern over road safety on Kenya’s highways, where speeding, mechanical failures, and reckless driving continue to claim lives despite ongoing efforts to reduce road accidents.