8 killed after matatu rammed on stalled lorry along Webuye-Eldoret highway

At least eight people were massacred last night in a horrific road crash after a matatu rammed onto a stationary lorry at Mukhonje in Lugari along the Eldoret–Webuye highway, police said.

Police said the accident occured after a speeding matatu rammed onto a lorry that had stalled on the road after experiencing mechanical challenges.

The lorry had several bags of fertiliser. Locals later looted the product.

Western regional police boss Issa Mohamud said seven people died on the spot.

He said the lorry had stalled on the road and the crew may have failed to place warnings on other road users.

At least five other passengers were injured in the accident.

“Seven people died on the spot,” Mohamud said, adding that the lorry crew may have failed to place warning signs to alert other road users of the breakdown.

The lorry, which was ferrying several bags of fertiliser, was hit from behind. Following the crash, some locals reportedly looted the fertiliser before police secured the scene. The lorry crew fled after the accident, police said.

At least five other passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The tragedy adds to a grim tally of road fatalities recorded across the country. On the same day, 18 people were killed in separate road accidents nationwide, police said.

According to police data, those killed included eight passengers, four pedestrians, three motorcycle riders, two pillion passengers and a driver. At least 36 others were injured, among them pedestrians, passengers, riders, drivers and pillion passengers.

Authorities warn that the rising number of crashes continues to have devastating social and economic consequences, leaving families bereaved and others struggling to care for injured relatives.

Figures from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) show that 4,458 people were killed in road accidents between January and December 2025, surpassing the 4,311 deaths recorded in 2024.

Pedestrians remain the most affected group, accounting for 1,685 deaths, while 403 drivers and 723 passengers lost their lives in crashes involving private vehicles, buses and matatus.

Motorcycle-related fatalities also remain alarmingly high, with 1,148 riders and 432 pillion passengers killed during the period. In addition, 67 pedal cyclists lost their lives.

NTSA officials say speeding, reckless overtaking and drunk driving continue to be the leading causes of road accidents, despite sustained public safety campaigns.

They have also cited poor vehicle maintenance, including worn tyres and faulty brakes, as well as poor road conditions—such as potholes, inadequate lighting and unclear signage—as major contributors to crashes, particularly at night. Police have urged motorists to exercise caution, observe traffic rules and ensure vehicles are roadworthy to prevent further loss of life.