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Update: Death toll rises to 11 in Nakuru-Eldoret highway accident

Among those who died at the hospital were a six-month-old baby and its mother.

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by PURITY WANGUI

News06 November 2023 - 10:25
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In Summary


  • • Nakuru Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi said the accident occurred when the truck driver lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road onto the opposite lane.
  • • He said the lorry collided head-on with a matatu belonging to Farasi Sacco which was ferrying passengers from Kitale to Nairobi.
Accident at Ngata, along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway on Monday, November 6, 2023.

The death toll of the early Monday morning accident at Ngata, along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway has risen to 11 after five more people succumbed to injuries.

Rift Valley Provincial General Medical Superintendent James Waweru said among those who died at the hospital were a six-month-old baby and its mother.

He said another child was admitted in critical condition after being hit on the head during the 3:30 am road crash that involved a matatu and a truck.

"The mother of the child in hospital is also admitted with two broken legs among other injuries," Waweru said.

Waweru said the hospital received seven people from the accident three of whom were pronounced dead on arrival.

Nakuru County Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi said the accident occurred when the truck driver lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road onto the opposite lane.

He said the lorry collided head-on with a matatu belonging to Farasi Sacco which was ferrying passengers from Kitale to Nairobi.

"The vehicles collided and rolled off the road killing six people on the spot among them the matatu driver," he said.

Ndanyi said the truck driver fled the scene immediately after the accident adding that police were searching for him.

Bodies of those who perished on the scene were moved to Nakuru County Mortuary while the vehicles were towed to Nakuru Central Police Station.

The Ngata stretch of the the dangerous Soilo-Salgaa stretch of the highway has been identified as a black spot having experienced numerous fatal accidents every month.

Last year, Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen outlined short-term measures the government would undertake to forestall further loss of lives at Ngata Bridge.

Speaking after an accident that cost 10 lives in December 2022, Murkomen instructed the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to install 'Observe Lane Discipline' road signs on the stretch of the road around the Ngata area.

This is yet to happen even as more accidents continue to occur.

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