By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 14 December 2025 - At least eight people have been confirmed dead, several others critically injured, in Nyamira County after a collision between a shuttle matatu and a trailer along the Kericho–Nyamira road.
The crash occurred at about 9pm on Saturday, 13 December, at the Tombe Bw’arani stretch, a route locals say has become increasingly treacherous due to heavy traffic and poor visibility at night. Police reported that only passengers seated at the back of the matatu survived, many with serious injuries.
Photos from the scene showed the matatu torn open on one side, while the trailer—believed to have been travelling from Ekerenyo—suffered minimal damage but blocked the road, forcing emergency responders and motorists to work together through the night to rescue survivors.
Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo described the incident as “deeply shocking,” confirming that medical teams at Nyamira County Referral Hospital were “working around the clock” to stabilise those injured.
On Sunday before noon, the governor visited the survivors at Nyamira Teaching and Referral Hospital.
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This latest tragedy came only hours after the death of former Lugari MP and Cabinet Minister Cyrus Jirongo, who died in a separate accident on the Nakuru–Nairobi highway. According to the bus driver involved, Jirongo’s vehicle veered into oncoming traffic while attempting to overtake during a gridlock near Karai.
The two fatal crashes have intensified scrutiny of Kenya’s worsening road safety record. Data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) shows that road deaths in 2025 have already surpassed last year’s total, with 4,458 fatalities recorded by 2 December—a 3.4 per cent rise. Pedestrians remain the most affected, while motorcycle-related deaths continue to climb sharply.
Nyamira and neighbouring counties have also been flagged as emerging hotspots, with narrow roads and frequent overtaking contributing to repeated disasters.
In response, the government has announced major upgrades, including dualling of the Mau Summit–Kericho–Kisumu corridor and other high-risk stretches that feed into Nyamira. The projects aim to cut head-on collisions significantly by separating traffic lanes and improving road design.
