12 friends killed in Nithi Bridge accident

A tragic accident at the infamous Nithi Bridge along the Meru-Nairobi highway claimed the lives of twelve people on Saturday night. The incident occurred when a Nairobi-bound private 14-seater van collided head-on with a Meru-bound Toyota Hilux pickup truck.

According to Tharaka Nithi County Police Commander Zacheaus Ng’eno, the accident happened around 9 p.m. when the van, carrying ten adults and two children, veered into the wrong lane and struck the oncoming pickup truck. All twelve victims, who were in the van, lost their lives instantly, while the two occupants of the pickup, including the driver, sustained injuries and were rushed to a hospital in Chogoria.

Ng’eno stated that the van’s driver, unfamiliar with the steep descent of the Meru-Embu road, likely lost control, leading to the fatal collision. “The vehicle was new to the Meru-Embu road and was in the wrong lane when the accident happened,” Ng’eno explained. He urged drivers to exercise caution, especially when navigating unfamiliar routes.

The van was part of a convoy carrying a group of friends returning to Kajiado after attending a parental blessing ceremony in Meru. Witnesses who were following the van described harrowing moments leading up to the crash, with one noting, “We were heading back to Kajiado after the ceremony. When we reached the steep descent, I saw the vehicle in front of us veer off the road.”

Tharaka Nithi County Fire and Rescue Department official Alex Mugambi also cautioned the public against gathering at accident scenes, as it could hinder rescue operations and increase the risk of further accidents.

This incident adds to the rising number of fatal road accidents in Kenya, despite ongoing efforts to enhance road safety. In October 2023, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) launched the National Road Safety Action Plan (2023-2027), aiming to reduce deaths and severe injuries on designated high-risk roads and urban areas by 50%.

Principal Secretary in the State Department of Transport, Mohamed Daghar, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between national and county governments to improve road safety across the country.

Kenya records approximately 4,000 road fatalities annually, with many more suffering serious injuries, impacting countless families.