At least five people have tragically lost their lives, and several others are nursing critical injuries following a horrific road accident that occurred on Monday evening in Keroka Town, Kisii County.
The accident, which took place along the busy Keroka-Masimba road, has left the local community in shock and mourning.
According to eyewitness reports, the incident unfolded at approximately 7:00 p.m. when a speeding lorry, which was transporting molasses, lost control and swerved off the road.
The heavy vehicle then careened into a group of boda boda operators who were on the side of the road. The impact was catastrophic, with several motorcycles caught in the crash, leaving mangled debris strewn across the area.
Immediate emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene, including police, disaster management teams, and medical personnel. The scene was chaotic, with the damaged lorry overturned beside the road, its contents scattered.
The first responders worked tirelessly to free the victims trapped under the wreckage. Local residents, who had gathered around the scene, assisted in the rescue operation, trying to help the injured while waiting for medical teams to arrive.
Kisii County Traffic Officer Richard Kipkemoi confirmed that the victims of the crash, including several boda boda riders, sustained serious injuries.
"Several individuals were critically injured and were promptly rushed to the Keroka Sub-County Hospital for immediate treatment," he said. He added that the death toll could rise as the severity of the injuries becomes clearer in the coming days.
Social media footage, widely circulated after the accident, provided a stark view of the disaster. The overturned lorry was shown lying on its side, its cargo of molasses spilled onto the roadside.
Nearby, a number of motorcycles lay wrecked in a trench, their riders caught in the aftermath of the collision. The footage also captured a large crowd of onlookers, some visibly distressed, as they watched the emergency responders at work.
As the rescue and recovery efforts continued, the local police cordoned off the area to allow for the safe removal of the victims and to preserve the scene for investigation.
The authorities also moved to manage the traffic that had been disrupted by the accident, directing vehicles away from the crash site to prevent further accidents.
While the exact cause of the crash is yet to be confirmed, authorities suspect that excessive speed may have contributed to the loss of control.
The lorry driver, who sustained minor injuries, was among the first to be questioned by police as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.
Kipkemoi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and called for road safety awareness in the area. "This is a tragic reminder of the need for heightened road safety measures, especially along this busy stretch," he said.
He also urged motorists to adhere to speed limits, particularly in areas where pedestrians and boda boda riders are commonly present.
As the community comes to terms with the loss, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about road safety in Kisii County and across Kenya.
With boda boda riders being a significant part of the transport system, there have been calls for better regulation of traffic, including speed limits and road safety education, to prevent such accidents in the future.
Authorities have promised to continue their investigations into the accident, with more details expected to be released as they gather evidence.
The tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by reckless driving and the importance of road safety for all road users.
