The Kericho-Kisumu Highway turned into a scene of horror Tuesday night after a speeding lorry lost control and ploughed into a group of pedestrians, killing at least six people.
The crash occurred at Kipsiget, Soin Police Commander Lawrence Kisini confirmed. “One woman and three men died instantly, while two others succumbed to their injuries on the way to hospital. Four more are fighting for their lives at Kericho County Hospital,” he said.
The ill-fated lorry was headed to Kisumu from Kericho when the driver reportedly lost control, veering off the road and mowing down unsuspecting pedestrians.
The tragedy added to a grim tally of road carnage that claimed over a dozen lives nationwide on the same day. Among the other victims were three motorcyclists, two drivers, and a passenger. Fourteen others were left nursing serious injuries.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir confirmed that road fatalities are spiraling, with 2,933 people killed between January and August this year alone. Shockingly, 80 deaths were recorded in just the past four days.
Chirchir said a multi-agency team has been dispatched to audit dangerous road stretches within a week and recommend urgent fixes. “We are implementing measures under the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024–2028 to address gaps in legislation, enforcement, and vehicle standards,” he added.
But for grieving families in Kericho, statistics offer little comfort. A single night on the highway has once again laid bare the country’s deadly road safety crisis.
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