By Robert Mutasi 
Five people died on the spot and eight others were injured in a grisly road accident along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway on Saturday morning.
The accident, which occurred at around 4:50 a.m., involved a 14-seater matatu belonging to Kapsowar Sacco and a truck that had reportedly stalled on the road.
Confirming the incident, Kuresoi North Sub-County Police Commander (SCPC) John Kimutai said the matatu was heading from Nakuru towards Eldoret when it rammed into the rear of the stationary truck on the climbing lane.
“The matatu belonging to Kapsowar Sacco was heading from Nakuru towards Eldoret at around 4:50am when it collided with the rear of a truck that had stalled on the climbing lane,” Kimutai said.
He said five passengers, whose identities had not been established by the time of reporting, died at the scene due to the impact of the collision. The bodies were later moved to Londiani Sub-County Hospital mortuary for preservation, identification and postmortem examination.
Eight other passengers sustained injuries of varying degrees and were rushed to the same facility for treatment.
“Eight people were rushed to Londiani Sub-County Hospital for treatment. Two are in serious condition,” Kimutai added.
The wreckage of the matatu was towed to Mau Summit Police Station as police launched investigations to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash, including why the stalled truck had not been removed from the highway or properly marked to warn oncoming motorists.
The Nakuru-Eldoret Highway is one of Kenya’s busiest and most accident-prone corridors, recording frequent crashes attributed to speeding, night driving, stalled vehicles and poor visibility, especially in the early morning hours.
The Saturday morning crash adds to a worrying trend of fatal accidents involving public service vehicles, many of which occur during dawn hours when drivers are racing to meet early schedules.
Kimutai urged motorists to exercise extreme caution while using the highway, particularly at night and in the early morning.
“We urge motorists to exercise caution while on the roads. Drivers whose vehicles stall should ensure they are removed promptly,” he said, reminding drivers to use life triangles and other warning signs to alert other road users in case of breakdowns.
He also called on Sacco officials and vehicle owners to ensure their drivers observe speed limits, take adequate rest, and ensure vehicles are in good mechanical condition before embarking on long-distance trips.
By Saturday mid-morning, police said efforts to contact the families of the deceased were ongoing, while the injured were receiving treatment at Londiani Sub-County Hospital.
Police said investigations are ongoing.