Tragedy struck on the busy Nakuru–Nairobi highway after 13 people lost their lives in a grisly road accident at Kariandusi near Kikopey on Sunday.
Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Winston Mwakio confirmed the fatalities, saying the accident involved a public service vehicle and a trailer. Several other passengers sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
According to preliminary police reports, the ill-fated vehicle was headed towards Nairobi when it collided head-on with the trailer at high speed. The wreckage was strewn across the highway, forcing traffic police to divert vehicles for several hours as rescue operations continued.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrific, with twisted metal and shattered glass marking the scale of destruction. Emergency responders, including Red Cross volunteers and local residents, joined police in retrieving the bodies and assisting the injured.
Commander Mwakio urged motorists to exercise caution, particularly along the stretch between Gilgil and Salgaa, which has long been identified as one of the country’s most dangerous accident black spots.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to Gilgil Sub-County Hospital mortuary, while police launched investigations into the cause of the crash.
The Kariandusi tragedy adds to the growing concerns over road safety on Kenyan highways, where hundreds of lives are lost annually due to reckless driving, speeding, and poor adherence to traffic regulations.
