A terrible traffic accident that happened Monday night in Gilgil’s Mbaruk neighborhood along the infamously dangerous Nakuru-Eldoret route claimed at least five lives, serving as a tragic and terrifying reminder of the fatal condition of Kenyan highways.
According to a police report, the crash unfolded at approximately 6:30 p.m. when a personal vehicle, reportedly attempting to overtake on a single-lane stretch, collided head-on with an oncoming truck. Moments later, a trailer ploughed into the already wrecked vehicle, leaving no chance for survival. Among the victims was an infant, marking a heartbreaking end to what should have been an ordinary journey.
Nakuru County Traffic Officer Allan Ogolla confirmed that all five occupants of the personal car died on the spot. Videos and photos that circulated online shortly after the crash painted a grim picture: twisted metal, flames engulfing the wreckage, and a sombre crowd watching as emergency responders struggled to retrieve bodies from the mangled debris.
The tragic incident triggered a massive traffic snarl-up, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. While investigations are underway, many are calling for urgent and sustained action.
Notably, this accident is not isolated. Less than two weeks ago, another fatal crash claimed two lives and left ten others seriously injured along the same highway. These recurring tragedies have sparked outrage among residents of Gilgil and surrounding areas, who have repeatedly decried the deteriorating state of the road and the government’s sluggish response to repair and expansion pledges.
Despite promises to upgrade the Nakuru-Eldoret highway, plans that were to begin in August, no tangible progress has been made. As more lives are claimed by preventable crashes, the call for swift intervention has grown deafening. Until then, for many Kenyans, every trip on this highway feels like a gamble with death.
