At least five people lost their lives, and four others were seriously injured in a tragic road accident at Subukia town in Nakuru County on Tuesday evening. The accident involved a trailer ferrying logs from Nyahururu towards Nakuru, which collided with a boda boda rider and his passenger before veering off the road.
According to a police report, the trailer hit the boda boda from behind, causing the lorry to veer off the road, where it struck two pedestrians, hit an electric pole, and eventually overturned in a ditch. The five victims who died include a 35-year-old boda boda rider, his passenger, two male pedestrians aged 40 and 60, and one other person who has not been identified.
A witness, Kamau Gathoni, who was at a nearby boda boda shade, reported that the lorry appeared to have lost its brakes as it descended the steep Subukia escarpment, an area known for its sharp bends. Kamau said, “We saw the lorry hit a bump at high speed before it knocked off our colleague and his passenger and rolled over.” He further explained that the trailer crashed on top of pedestrians and bystanders, trapping them under the heavy logs.
“It was difficult to remove the logs, but we eventually managed to free them. Unfortunately, some were already dead, and others were seriously injured,” Kamau added. Four people were rescued alive, though they sustained severe injuries. Agnes Wamuyu had a crushed leg, George Ngigi suffered a leg fracture, Denis Mutai had chest injuries, and Francis Njuguna sustained head injuries.
The truck driver and his assistant survived with minor injuries. The area has become a notorious accident blackspot. Subukia Senior Chief Norman Kiiru called on authorities to expand the road for safety. He added, “This is the third accident at this spot recently.”
Local MP Samuel Gachobe extended condolences to the families of the deceased and urged road users to be more cautious, especially with the festive season approaching. “We must push for interventions where necessary, and drivers should be more alert to prevent further tragedies,” he said.