Atleast six people were killed and four others injured on Tuesday night when a lorry lost control and rammed into pedestrians and motorcycle riders at Kipsitet trading centre along the busy Kericho–Kisumu highway.
Police said the lorry, which was carrying scrap metal, was heading towards Kisumu when it veered off the road. It struck boda boda riders and people waiting by the roadside stage before coming to a halt.
“The driver lost control of the vehicle and ran into the crowd, killing six instantly,” said Lawrence Kisini, the Sigowet/Soin Sub-County Police Commander.
The impact left bodies trapped beneath the lorry, making it difficult for emergency crews to retrieve them. Officers and locals worked together to pull victims out from under the wreckage.
The injured were taken to Kericho County Referral Hospital for treatment. The bodies of the dead were also moved to the hospital mortuary.
The crash caused panic at the usually busy trading centre, where small businesses and boda boda operators are a daily feature. Several witnesses described scenes of chaos, with some saying they narrowly escaped.
By Wednesday morning, the lorry’s wreckage had been towed to Kipsitet police station as investigations began. Police said they would be questioning the driver and inspecting the vehicle to determine the cause of the accident.
Road accidents remain a leading cause of deaths in Kenya, with the National Transport and Safety Authority reporting that thousands die each year on highways. Campaigners have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of speed limits and vehicle inspections.
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