At least five people lost their lives after a 16-seater public service vehicle (PSV) was involved in a grisly accident at Kanga, Mtito Andei, along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

Confirming the tragic incident, Kibwezi Sub-County Police Commander George Kashmir stated that three children, a woman and the driver of the matatu died on the spot.

Kashmir noted that the vehicle heading to Nuu, Kitui County from Mombasa rammed into a lorry as it attempted to overtake another vehicle.

An image of the 16-seater vehicle that was involved in a head-on collision along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway on Sunday, September 25, 2022. KENYANS.CO.KE

"The matatu collided head-on with a lorry after it attempted to overtake another vehicle.

"Three children aged one, three, and four years, a woman, and the driver of the matatu died on the spot during the 11a.m accident," the police commander reported. 

The bodies of the five were ferried to the Makindu Sub-County Hospital mortuary. Kashmore stated that 11 other passengers were pulled out of the wreckage by eyewitnesses.

Survivors were rushed to the Mtito Andei and Makindu Sub-County hospitals where they are receiving medical attention. The police have launched investigations into the matter.

Kinatwa Prestige Sacco Chair Daniel Mutuku confirmed that the vehicle registered under plate number KDB 620Y involved in the mid-morning accident Is enrolled with their Sacco.

Police at the scene kickstarted the process of moving the wreckage and the overturned lorry from the road. In addition, they also stationed traffic marshals to control the build-up that resulted from the accident.

In 2017, Kanga area along the Mtito Andei-Voi stretch was listed by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) as a blackspot.

In a road safety drive dubbed 'Fatal Six', NTSA listed speeding and lane indiscipline among the leading causes of loss of lives on Kenyan roads. Others listed include driving under the influence, distracted driving, failure to wear helmets and failure to use footbridges. 

According to outgoing Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna 4,579 Kenyans lost their lives in road accidents in 2021. By Paul Kurgat, Kenyans.co.ke