Five people lost their lives on the morning of Wednesday, January 26, after a multiple-car crash at Kikopey Trading Center along the Nakuru-Gilgil Highway. 

The National Police Service (NPS), while confirming the accident, noted that the incident involved two public service vehicles and a lorry.

A Mololine Service matatu and another managed by Nairobi Bus Company rammed into a lorry that had stalled along the climbing lane on the left side of the road used by motorists heading towards Nairobi.

A photo of the wreckages from the scene where two matatus rammed into a stalled lorry at Kikopey, along Nakuru-Gilgil Highway on January 26, 2023.

NPS

"Our preliminary investigations indicate that two matatus belonging to Nairobi and Mololine Bus Companies rammed onto a lorry that was stalled along the climbing lane facing towards Nairobi direction," read a statement from the police. 

Reports indicated that the accident happened at around 5 am on Thursday. Four adults and one child died in the accident while others sustained serious injuries. 

In the photos sent from the scene, the two matatus were extremely defaced to signify the impact of the crash of the three vehicles. 

The cause of the fatal crash was yet to be fully established at the time of this publication. However, the police committed to further investigating the accident to ascertain the cause. 

In addition, the NPS urged Kenyans to take precautions while using the road amid concerns over the increased number of accidents.

"We appeal to motorists and all road users to adhere to traffic rules by driving within the legal speed limits, refraining from driving under influence of alcohol and any other form of recklessness on the road," read a statement from the police. 

The accident came amid sensitization campaigns by relevant agencies aimed at slowing down the rate of accidents on Kenyan roads.

According to a report from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the number of deaths from road accidents increased from 4271 in 2021, to 4432 as of December 2022. 

High-speed and drunk driving have always emerged as the leading causes of road accidents, especially for long distances travellers. 

The debris of a Nairobi Bus shuttle van being towed away from the accident scene at Kikopey on January 26, 2023.

GITAU PHOTO

A recovery vehicle tows away the wreckage of a Mololine matatu involved in an accident at Kikopey on January 26, 2023.