A devastating accident on the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway claimed the lives of 12 people early Friday morning. The crash occurred at the notorious Migaa black spot, where a trailer transporting coffee seeds lost control and collided head-on with a 14-seater matatu carrying 11 passengers.
Reports indicate that the trailer’s brakes failed, leading to the fatal collision. The matatu was left in ruins, its shattered windows and flattened tires reflecting the severity of the impact.
Emergency teams, including the Kenya Red Cross Society and the Nakuru Disaster Management team, rushed to the scene. Despite their swift response, all passengers in the matatu were pronounced dead on-site. The trailer, en route to Eldoret, also sustained heavy damage.
The crash caused significant traffic disruptions on the busy highway, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. Police quickly secured the area to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
Police Spokesperson Michael Muchiri confirmed that the victims included nine men, two women, and a child, underscoring the broad impact of the accident. He urged drivers to exercise extreme caution around the Migaa black spot, an area notorious for frequent and fatal crashes.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy from last August, when 14 people lost their lives and 36 were injured in an accident involving a Coast Bus. The recurring nature of these crashes highlights the urgent need for improved road safety measures in the region.
Authorities are now facing growing pressure to enforce stricter regulations and implement additional safety measures to prevent further loss of life on this perilous stretch of road.
