Ten people have died and five others are in critical condition following a head-on collision between a Nairobi-bound Grenline bus and a Nakuru-bound Nanyuki cabs shuttle at Karai on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
The crash, which occurred around 1.00 am on Monday, claimed nine lives on the spot, eight passengers from the shuttle and a small child from the bus while five critically injured victims were rushed to Naivasha Hospital, alongside 35 other people, including five children.
The accident happened at the same stretch where former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo died weeks ago.
Naivasha Sub-County Police Commander Wilson Sigei said the bus driver was overtaking when he encountered a saloon car that had suddenly joined the highway from Eagol Petrol Station, causing the speeding bus to swerve and collide head-on.
“We are observing this stretch of the road as most drivers are speeding here,” said Sigei
Passengers on the Grenline bus told authorities the driver appeared drowsy from Nakuru, raising concerns about his driving skills. Two of his conductors were prompted to keep him company to enhance his ability.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Saturday urged all road users to exercise extreme caution and strictly adhere to traffic rules, especially as children begin traveling back to school for the first term of the academic year 2026.
In a press statement, NTSA reported three separate incidents along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway and the Gilgil–Nakuru Highway, noting that preliminary investigations pointed to reckless driving and failure to observe traffic rules as key factors in the crashes.
One of the crashes occurred in the Konza area along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway and involved a bus operated by Tahmeed Express Limited and a matatu belonging to Naekana Route 139 Sacco.
Another fatal accident was reported in the Kikopey area along the Gilgil–Nakuru Highway, claiming at least five lives. NTSA said the incident involved a matatu operated by Rift Valley Shuttle, a foreign-registered truck, and a stalled trailer.
“Preliminary reports indicate that the foreign-registered truck failed to maintain a safe following distance, resulting in a rear-end collision with the matatu,” the authority said. “Due to the impact, the matatu then collided with the stalled trailer.”
A third crash occurred at Taita Village along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway and involved a bus operated by Janan Bus Services. NTSA noted that the driver failed to keep to the proper lane while overtaking and subsequently lost control of the vehicle. “Fortunately, no fatalities were recorded following the incident,” the statement added.
“We urge all road users to exercise extreme caution and adhere to traffic rules, especially as our children travel back to school next week,” NTSA said.
