Twelve people were killed and six others injured in a tragic night-time crash along the Kisii–Kisumu highway at Chabera in Rachuonyo East Sub-County, Homabay County.
The accident occurred on Sunday, December 14, and involved two lorries and a private van travelling from Kakamega toward Nyamira.
Police confirmed that most of the victims were members of the same family returning to Nyamaiya in Nyamira North after attending a wedding ceremony in Kakamega County.
At least 10 were killed on the spot while two others are said to have succumbed in hospital.
Survivors of the accident sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby medical facilities, including Agoro Sare Hospital and Matata Nursing Home in Oyugis town, where they are receiving treatment. Authorities are still compiling a full list of the injured as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
The Chabera crash comes amid growing concern over a surge in fatal road accidents nationwide. In recent days, multiple deadly crashes, including incidents in Nyamira County and along the Nairobi–Nakuru highway, have underscored Kenya’s worsening road safety crisis.
Homabay Governor Gladys Wanga conveyed her condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of county support. She said emergency services had been deployed to assist victims and coordinate rescue efforts with national authorities. “We urge motorists to exercise caution, especially at night,” the governor added, highlighting the need for increased vigilance on the roads during the holiday season.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula joined fellow Kenyans in expressing his concern over the rising road carnage. “Late last night, ten people died along the Kisumu–Chabera Road, just hours after other accidents across the country had claimed nearly twenty lives,” Wetangula said, extending his thoughts and prayers to the affected families.
He urged road users to act responsibly during the busy holiday period, emphasizing the need for caution. “Drivers must ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and obey traffic rules, while passengers should report reckless conduct to help avert tragedy,” he advised.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, while residents and officials call for stricter adherence to traffic regulations to prevent further loss of life.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has reported that 4,458 people had died in road accidents as of early December 2025, exceeding the 4,311 fatalities recorded in 2024.
NTSA said the majority of accidents were caused by unsafe road behaviours, including overspeeding, driver fatigue, drunk driving, dangerous overtaking, and lane indiscipline. Pedestrians remain the most at-risk road users, followed by motorcyclists and their passengers.
The authority estimates that road crashes cost Kenya between three and five percent of its gross domestic product each year, and it urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy while strictly following traffic regulations.
