At least 28 passengers were injured after an Easy Coach bus crashed into a trailer along the Nakuru–Kisumu Highway on Monday, December 15, in yet another accident highlighting growing road safety concerns during the festive season.
The crash occurred near Salgaa, a section of the highway notorious for fatal accidents. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and transferred the injured to hospitals in Nakuru.
The bus was travelling from Nairobi to Kisumu at the time of the collision. While witnesses reported multiple casualties, Easy Coach has yet to confirm the exact number of victims as investigations into the cause of the accident continue.
Meanwhile, the Christmas festive season has significantly affected travel across Kenya, with demand for long-distance transport soaring. Several transport companies have hiked fares by nearly three-quarters, citing increased passenger numbers and operational costs.
At the ENA Coach booking office in Nairobi, officials confirmed that all routes are fully booked until December 31, reflecting the heavy pressure on major highways as thousands of Kenyans travel upcountry for the holidays.
The festive rush has coincided with a spike in road accidents countrywide, prompting police officers to issue renewed appeals for drivers to observe traffic rules, avoid speeding, and refrain from night driving where possible.
The wreckage at the Salgaa crash site showed the Easy Coach bus extensively damaged at the front and side, renewing fears over repeated night accidents along the corridor.
The incident occurred just a day after another bus crash that claimed the life of a woman suspected to be the wife of a police officer.
It also comes as Kenya continues to reflect on recent high-profile road tragedies, including the accident involving former Cabinet minister Cyrus Jirongo, which reignited public debate on reckless driving, highway safety, and enforcement of traffic laws.
Separately, hours after the Salgaa crash, 10 people were killed along the Kisumu–Kisii Highway near Chabera when a Nissan matatu collided head-on with a lorry travelling from Oyugis towards Katito after the lorry reportedly lost control and veered into the matatu’s lane.
Authorities and road safety advocates have once again called for stricter traffic enforcement and urgent safety interventions, especially as festive travel peaks toward the end of December.
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