A senior police officer has died following a devastating multi-vehicle road accident along the busy Nakuru-Nairobi Highway in the Karai area near Naivasha.
The victim, Nyandarua County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) John Rioba, sustained fatal injuries after his vehicle was involved in a crash that police say involved nine vehicles on Monday evening.
According to preliminary police reports from Naivasha Police Station, the accident occurred at approximately 4:50 p.m. when a lorry travelling towards Nakuru reportedly lost control and collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser carrying two European nationals.
The impact of the collision is said to have caused the lorry to veer into the opposite lane, where it crashed into seven additional vehicles that were travelling towards Nairobi.
SSP Rioba, who was driving an Isuzu D-Max, was among those caught up in the chain-reaction collision. He was rushed to Naivasha Sub-County Hospital for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.
In the aftermath of the accident, a civilian reportedly recovered the officer’s loaded Ceska pistol from the wreckage and safely handed it over to a nearby police officer.
Several other people sustained injuries in the crash. Among them was Uasin Gishu County Assembly Member Regina Chumba, who is currently receiving treatment after complaining of chest pains following the accident.
The two foreign nationals travelling in the Toyota Land Cruiser escaped with minor injuries and were treated.
Police said all nine vehicles involved in the accident suffered extensive damage. The wrecked vehicles were later towed to Naivasha Police Station, where they will undergo inspection as investigations continue.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for the lorry driver, who reportedly fled the scene immediately after the crash. Investigators are working to establish the exact circumstances that led to the accident.
The tragic incident once again highlights the growing concern over road safety along the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway, a stretch that has witnessed numerous fatal accidents in recent years.
The death of SSP Rioba has sent shockwaves through the police service, with colleagues and leaders mourning the loss of a senior officer described as dedicated and committed to fighting crime.
Investigations into the accident remain ongoing.
