The death toll in the aftermath of a road accident in Nyalunya on the Katito-Kendu Bay road in Kisumu has risen to seven.
One person succumbed at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu on Thursday.
The death was confirmed by the hospital's chief executive officer Dr Richard Lesiyampe.
He said one person out of the eight who were rushed to the hospital was already dead.
The CEO said six survivors, including two minors, are still admitted at the facility in stable condition.
On Wednesday, five people died on the spot after a tipper lorry ferrying sand had a tyre burst.
The driver, who also died on the spot, then lost control of the vehicle and collided head-on with the Homa Bay bound matatu killing five the five on the spot.
The overspending matatu has been blamed for the accident which killed the seven.
Nyakach subcounty police commander John Losia said a preliminary investigation into the accident pointed to speeding, leading to the accident which could have been avoided.
"If the driver was not overspending he could have navigated and avoided the head-on collision with the lorry which had a tyre burst before it lost control," he said.
As of February 14, road accidents across the country had claimed 563 lives since the year 2024 started.
These deaths, according to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority, occurred between January 1 to February 11, 2024
The statistics are an increase compared to deaths recorded during the same period in 2023 which stood at 537.
Pedestrians lead in fatalities with 216, compared with 163 recorded last year.
Following closely are passengers who recorded 109 deaths which is 11 more compared to the 98 recorded in 2023.
Motorcyclists recorded 140 deaths representing a decrease when compared to 151 recorded in 2023.
Pillion passengers recorded 54 deaths compared to 68 witnessed last year.
35 drivers have lost their lives in road accidents. This is a decrease compared to 49 in the same period last year.
So far this year, only nine pedal cyclists have died from an accident within the period under review compared to eight last year.
Last year, at least 22,885 people were involved in road accidents.
NTSA said 4,324 died while the rest were left mostly with life-changing injuries.
At least 10,769 people were seriously injured and 7,792 were slightly injured.
This was an increase of 1,127 compared to 2022 where 21,758 people were involved in road crashes and 4,690 died, 9,933 got seriously injured and 7,135 were slightly injured.
