Fresh Road Tragedies: Kiambu and Kisumu Mourn as Fatal Crashes Highlight National Road Safety Crisis

1. Matatu–Lorry Crash in Kajiado County

Kajiado, Kenya – A devastating head-on collision between a 14-seater matatu (Nailepu Sacco) and a lorry near Korompoi on the Nairobi–Namanga Road claimed seven lives on Saturday, August 9, 2025. The accident occurred at around 9 a.m., amid heavy morning fog, which severely limited visibility. Preliminary investigations suggest the lorry was overtaking when the crash occurred. Four women and three men reportedly died at the scene, with the rest rushed to hospitals in critical condition. Aggrieved residents later torched the lorry and blocked the road, demanding the installation of speed bumps and improved signage along the accident-prone stretch.([turn0search0])

Key Details:

• Deaths: Seven (four women, three men) confirmed on the spot.

• Cause: Suspected overtaking under poor visibility; speeding commonly reported on the stretch.

• Aftermath: Community protests—a truck was torched, and roadblock placed calling for safety upgrades.

2. Kisumu Bus Crash Claims 25 Lives

Kisumu County, Kenya – Just hours earlier on Friday, August 8, a bus ferrying mourners returning from a funeral overturned near the Coptic Roundabout along the Kisumu–Kakamega Road, killing 25 people and injuring 28 others. The bus reportedly lost control, veered off, and plunged into a ditch. Among the dead were men, women, and a 10-year-old girl. Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o and other regional leaders immediately called for urgent redesign of the roundabout, a notorious “black spot”. Meanwhile, an urgent blood drive was launched at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to save injured survivors, and President Ruto directed law enforcement to prosecute those responsible for negligence.([turn0search17], [turn0search15],

Key Details:

• Deaths: 25 confirmed; initial reports cited 21 at the scene and four additional in hospital.

• Injuries: 28 hospitalized, including a child.

• Response: Calls for infrastructure redesign, traffic law enforcement, and immediate investigations.

Broader Implications & Driving Urgency

The proximity of these two tragedies—one in Kajiado and the other in Kisumu—within hours of each other has shocked the nation and renewed calls for:

• Urgent road infrastructure interventions in known danger zones (e.g., Coptic Roundabout and the Kitengela corridor).

• Stricter enforcement of speed limits, particularly in fog-prone stretches.

• Mass driver training and road safety audits by NTSA and KeNHA to curb recurring crashes.

• Community involvement and real-time safety feedback loops to identify and fix hotspots.

Summary Table