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At least six people lost their lives while more than a dozen others were injured in two separate road accidents reported in Bungoma and Kericho counties on Saturday, according to police.
The first crash occurred at Chomoi along the Eldoret–Webuye Highway, where a trailer transporting logs reportedly lost control, collided with a matatu, and overturned onto it.
Police said the Toyota Hiace matatu, belonging to North Rift Shuttle, was heading from Eldoret to Webuye with 11 passengers on board when the trailer, travelling in the opposite direction, veered off course and crashed into it, temporarily blocking the highway.
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The matatu driver, 34-year-old Felix Oloktar, died on the spot alongside two female passengers whose identities had not been established by the time of reporting.
Several other passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Among them was a police officer attached to Liboi Police Station, who suffered minor injuries to both legs.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to the Village of Hope Hospital mortuary pending identification and post-mortem examinations.
Police officers visited the scene and launched investigations as efforts to remove the wreckage and reopen the highway continued. The damaged vehicles were towed for inspection.
In a separate incident in Kericho County, three pillion passengers, including a juvenile, were killed following a collision between a motorcycle and a matatu at the Baseline area along the Muhoroni–Londiani Road in Fort Ternan.
The accident occurred at around 6 p.m. when a Toyota matatu operated by Molo Bright SACCO was travelling towards Muhoroni.
Police said a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle heading towards Londiani allegedly veered into the wrong lane before colliding head-on with the matatu.
The motorcycle rider was carrying three passengers, none of whom was wearing a helmet or reflective jacket.
Two women and a female juvenile who were travelling as pillion passengers died at the scene, while the rider sustained serious head injuries and a fractured left leg.
Three passengers travelling in the matatu were also injured and taken to Fort Ternan Sub-County Hospital for treatment.
The bodies of the deceased were moved to St. Vincent Mortuary as police commenced investigations into the fatal crash. Both vehicles were towed to Fort Ternan Police Station for inspection.
Police said a total of 19 people died in separate road accidents across the country on Saturday night. The victims included pedestrians, passengers, drivers, motorcycle riders, and pillion passengers, while another 19 people sustained serious injuries.
Authorities said investigations into the accidents are ongoing as the government continues efforts to curb the rising number of road crashes, which continue to claim lives and leave many families facing significant financial and emotional hardship.
