At least 15 people have been killed and 29 others injured in a tragic road accident at Malaha Junction along the Kitale–Webuye highway in Bungoma County.
The accident occurred at around 2am on Tuesday after a long-distance trailer reportedly lost control and ploughed into several vehicles and pedestrians along the busy highway.
Police and witnesses said the trailer was travelling from Kitale towards Webuye when it veered off the road and rammed into private vehicles and motorcycles that had been parked by the roadside.
The crash also involved several boda boda riders who were waiting along the highway at the time of the incident.
Preliminary reports from police indicated that the incident may have begun after two motorcycles were involved in a head-on collision, attracting a crowd of people to the scene.
Moments later, the trailer is said to have crashed into the group of bystanders, causing multiple deaths and injuries.
Authorities said the trailer driver is suspected to have fled the scene shortly after the accident.
Webuye East Sub-County Police Commander Rosemary Odeke confirmed the incident and said investigations are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the crash and confirm the final number of casualties.
She urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads, particularly during night travel, as police continue with investigations.
The injured victims were rushed to Webuye County Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of those who died were moved to the hospital’s mortuary pending identification and postmortem examinations.
