- Since the beginning of the year, Kenya has unfortunately witnessed a surge in road accidents resulting in numerous fatalities.
- According to reports from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the number of fatalities recorded from road accidents in the first two months of 2024 far exceeds those recorded in the same period of 2023.
- Of particular concern is the vulnerability of buses in recent incidents. Most notably, a recent tragedy involved a Tahmeed bus, which erupted in flames after colliding with an oil tanker, leaving passengers trapped inside.
Every journey carries with it the promise of arrival, but for too many Kenyans, the road becomes a perilous path fraught with danger. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, tragic road accidents shatter families, claim lives, and leave communities grieving.
In the mere 60 days since the year began, Kenya has been rocked by sobering statistics revealing a tragic toll of lives lost in road accidents.
The first weeks of 2024 saw a disturbing surge in fatalities, shedding light on the profound road safety challenges facing the nation.
NTSA findings highlight losing control as a significant contributing factor to these accidents. Pedestrians have borne the brunt of these tragedies, with a trove of fatalities recorded since the year began, signaling a worrying escalation from previous years.
Just an inch away from the new year, the nation mourns the loss of precious lives in devastating road accidents. Here is a closer look at some of the most heartbreaking incidents that have unfolded since the year’s inception.
1: Arusha-Namanga Road Crash (February 24, 2024):
The death toll from a road accident involving four vehicles in the Kibaoni (Ngaramtoni) area along the Arusha-Namanga highway was 25, with 21 passengers sustaining serious injuries.
The accident occurred on Saturday, February 24, 2024, and involved a truck and three other vehicles.
The Commissioner of Police for Operations and Training, said that 11 of the dead were women, including a young girl and seven foreign nationals.
The accident involved a lorry with registration number KAC 943 H, a Mack truck with trailer number ZF 6778, belonging to KAY Construction Company of Nairobi, Kenya.
2: Machakos Road Accident
More than 10 passengers died on the spot in a grisly road accident in Katangi area in Machakos County.
The Matatu was travelling from Zombe Market in Kitui East to Nairobi and lost control as it negotiated a corner while descending towards Athi River, where it rolled several times.
Machakos County Police Commander Patrick Lobolia said first responders to the accident initially retrieved eight bodies from the mangled wreckage, with three others still missing.
3: Nyando, Kisumu County Accident That Claimed 17 Lives
An early Monday morning road accident on January 29 involving a passenger bus and a truck claimed the lives of 17 travelers and left more than 27 others nursing serious injuries.
The 2:30 accident occurred at Othoo area in Nyando, Kisumu County.
Witnesses said a Mombasa-bound bus, belonging to Super Metro, was overtaking a saloon car when it rammed into an oncoming truck.
Both drivers died on the spot.
4: Gitugi – Murang’a Road That Involved School Bus
Three pupils lost their lives on Saturday evening as scores of others were admitted in hospital after the bus they were traveling in was involved in an accident along Gitugi – Murang’a road.
One of the pupils perished on the spot, while two others died at Murang’a Level 5 hospital, where they were rushed for treatment.
In the 6.20 pm accident, a bus belonging to Maadili School of Juja was ferrying 38 pupils, three teachers, and two drivers from Nyeri County, where they had gone to participate in celebrations to mark Scouts Founder’s Day.
5: Busia Town Accident Involving Bus and Oil tanker
Two people have been confirmed dead, eight others hospitalized in a fatal road accident involving a Thamith bus and fuel tanker at Mundika a few kilometers from Busia town, today, March 1 2024.
According to eyewitness, the tanker, which was coming from Kisumu, lost control while it was trying to overtake a probox, knocking on the bus and forcing it to overturn.
The bus blew into flame after the tanker started to leak. The driver of the tanker and his core driver were the casualties in the accidents.
Also read:
1: Kisumu Road Accident Claims Lives of At Least 7 people
2: At Least Nine People Died On Monday in a Horrific Bus Crush On Kitui-Machakos Road
Total Number of Fatalities Recorded in 2024
During the first week of January 2024, a total of 84 lives were lost in road accidents, as reported by NTSA. The victims included 31 pedestrians, 23 motorcyclists, 7 drivers, and 6 pillion passengers. Shockingly, only 1 pedal cyclist lost their life during this period. This grim statistic highlights the diverse range of individuals affected by road accidents in Kenya.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) underscores the urgent need for coordinated road safety efforts involving both national and county governments to enhance safety on Kenyan roads. This call for action comes in response to the troubling trend of road fatalities witnessed in the first weeks of 2024.
From January 1 to February 20, 2024, a total of 649 lives were tragically claimed by road accidents across the country. This figure represents an increase compared to the 623 fatalities recorded during the same period in 2023. The rise in fatalities serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing road safety challenges facing Kenya and the imperative for concerted efforts to address them effectively.
