Counties

Fatal Multi-Vehicle Collision Claims 10 Lives on Kisii-Kisumu Highway

Homabay County, Kenya – A devastating road accident has claimed the lives of at least ten people along the Kisii-Kisumu highway near Chabera in Rachuonyo East Sub-County, Homabay County.

ALSO READ: Former Cabinet Minister Cyrus Jirongo Dies in Highway Accident

The tragic incident occurred late Sunday evening, December 14, when two commercial lorries collided with a private van that was traveling from Kakamega toward Nyamira. According to police reports, all ten fatalities were members of a single family returning to their home in Nyamaiya, Nyamira North, following a wedding celebration in Kakamega County.

Multiple survivors sustained injuries in the crash and were transported to nearby medical facilities, including Agoro Sare Hospital and Matata Nursing Home in Oyugis town, where they are receiving treatment.

Homabay County Governor Gladys Wanga expressed her condolences to the affected families and pledged comprehensive support for both the injured victims and the bereaved relatives. She also called on motorists to exercise heightened vigilance on the roads.

“I have instructed all county emergency services to work closely with national authorities in rescue operations and to extend full assistance to the injured and grieving families. A comprehensive investigation into what caused this accident is currently underway,” Governor Wanga said in a statement.

Alarming Surge in Fatal Road Accidents

The Chabera tragedy is the latest in a disturbing series of fatal road accidents that have plagued Kenya in recent days, raising serious concerns about road safety across the nation.

Just one day earlier, on Saturday night, December 13, eight people perished in Nyamira County when a matatu collided with a trailer in another catastrophic crash. Additionally, in the predawn hours of that same Saturday, former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo lost his life in a separate accident at Karai along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway after his vehicle collided head-on with a bus.

These consecutive tragedies have reignited national debate about Kenya’s deteriorating road safety situation, despite numerous public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing accidents.

Nation Faces Road Safety Crisis

Data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) paints a grim picture of the country’s road safety landscape. As of early December 2025, road accidents have claimed 4,458 lives—a figure that has already exceeded the 4,311 fatalities recorded during the entire year of 2024.

NTSA has identified several key factors contributing to the majority of these accidents, including excessive speed, driver fatigue, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless overtaking maneuvers, and poor lane discipline.

Statistics reveal that pedestrians remain the most vulnerable category of road users, suffering the highest number of fatalities, with motorcyclists and their passengers following closely behind.

The economic impact of these accidents is substantial, with NTSA estimating that road crashes cost Kenya between 3% and 5% of its gross domestic product each year.

The authority has intensified its appeal to motorists and all road users to exercise extreme caution, maintain their vehicles in roadworthy condition, and strictly observe traffic regulations. NTSA emphasized that ensuring road safety is a collective responsibility that requires commitment from all stakeholders.

As investigations into the Chabera accident continue, authorities are urging drivers to remain particularly vigilant during the current holiday season, when traffic volumes typically increase significantly.