At least twelve people have lost their lives in two separate road accidents along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway within a span of less than 24 hours.
The latest tragedy occurred on Friday morning in the Limuru area, where seven people died after a 14-seater matatu lost control and veered off the road at the Kamandura junction, according to police reports.
Witnesses and police confirmed that the vehicle, belonging to Kijabeline Sacco and en route from Nairobi to Kijabe town, plunged into a steep slope and rolled several times. “Five passengers died on the spot,” said Limuru sub-county police commander Mary Gachie.
Two additional victims later succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at a local hospital. Four other passengers remain in critical condition at Tigoni Hospital.
The crash occurred around 8:00 a.m., just about one kilometre from the scene of another deadly accident that took place on Thursday evening. In that earlier incident, a private vehicle suffered a tyre burst and crashed, killing three people instantly. Two others later died in hospital, police said.
The wreckage from both crashes has been towed to Tigoni Police Station. Police confirmed that investigations into the two incidents are ongoing.
