At least six people were killed and more than a dozen were injured in two separate road accidents in Bungoma and Kericho counties.
The accidents happened on Saturday evening, police said.
The first incident happened where three people were killed and several others injured on Saturday afternoon after a log-laden trailer lost control and overturned onto a matatu at Chomoi area along the Eldoret–Webuye Highway.
The crash occurred when a Toyota Hiace matatu belonging to North Rift Shuttle was travelling towards Webuye from Eldoret with 11 passengers on board.
Police said a trailer carrying logs, which was travelling in the opposite direction, lost control before colliding with the matatu and overturning onto it, temporarily blocking the highway.
The driver of the matatu, identified as 34-year-old
Felix Oloktar, died at the scene alongside two unidentified female passengers.
Among the injured was a police officer of Liboi Police Station, who sustained minor injuries to both legs and was receiving treatment. The other passengers suffered varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals.
The bodies of the deceased were moved to the Village of Hope Hospital mortuary, where they await identification and postmortem examinations.
Police visited the scene and launched investigations as efforts continued to clear the wreckage and reopen the highway. The damaged vehicles were to be towed to the police station for inspection. Initial investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
Elsewhere, three pillion passengers, including a juvenile, were killed in a road accident on Saturday evening at Baseline area along the Muhoroni–Londiani road in Fort Ternan, Kericho county.
The crash occurred at about 6 pm when a Toyota matatu belonging to Molo Bright SACCO was travelling towards Muhoroni.
Police said a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction towards Londiani, suddenly veered onto the wrong lane and collided head-on with the matatu.
The motorcycle was being ridden by a rider, who was carrying three pillion passengers. None of the four occupants was wearing a helmet or reflective jacket.
Two women and a female juvenile who were travelling as pillion passengers died at the scene. The rider sustained serious head injuries and a fractured left leg.
Three passengers aboard the matatu were also injured.
All the injured were taken to Fort Ternan Subcounty Hospital for treatment.
The bodies of the deceased were moved to St Vincent
Mortuary, awaiting identification and postmortem examinations.
Police visited the scene and towed both the matatu and the motorcycle to Fort Ternan Police Station pending inspection. Investigations into the cause of the fatal collision are ongoing.
On Saturday night, police said 19 people died in separate accidents in the country. The victims included ten pedestrians, three pillion passengers, three passengers, two drivers and a rider.
The accidents also left 19 people with serious injuries,
police said.
Police said they are investigating the incidents. They come at a time when there is a campaign to address the menace. The accidents have left many families with huge bills to address, hence negatively affecting their lives.
