Tragedy struck on Saturday night after an ambulance carrying a critically ill patient crashed near Kimende along the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway, killing all six people on board.
According to police and eyewitness reports, the ambulance, affiliated with St. Mary’s Elementaita, was ferrying a patient to the hospital when the accident occurred. Those who perished included the patient, her husband, two relatives, a nurse, and the ambulance driver. Witnesses say the vehicle, which appeared to be speeding in an urgent rush to reach the hospital, suddenly lost control and veered off the road before crashing.
The impact was devastating. Images from the scene showed the ambulance reduced to a mangled wreck, its front end twisted beyond recognition. Emergency responders confirmed that none of the occupants survived. The crash occurred at a well-known black spot along the highway, notorious for claiming dozens of lives in the past.
Just a day earlier, on Friday, the same road was the scene of another major accident near Gilgil. The multi-vehicle crash, which involved a truck and several other vehicles between Kikopey and St. Mary’s, caused a heavy traffic jam stretching several kilometers. The truck overturned, completely blocking the busy highway and leaving motorists stranded for hours. Though casualties from the Friday crash remain unconfirmed, witnesses reported that several people were injured.
“The way is completely blocked, and there are a few people injured here. However, as it stands, there is no movement,” one motorist recounted during the ordeal.
The back-to-back accidents have once again drawn attention to the high number of fatalities along the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway, which remains one of Kenya’s most dangerous road corridors. Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution, especially in notorious black spots such as Kimende and Gilgil.
