The fatal Kikopey crash along the Gilgil-Nakuru Highway has renewed concerns over reckless driving and the dangers motorists face on the busy road.
The Sunday night, September 13, accident involved an Easy Coach bus and a private Toyota IST, leaving five people travelling in the car dead.
The tragedy has had a devastating impact on one family, with a relative of the victims confirming that five people who died in the crash were members of the same extended family.
The deceased included his wife and daughter, as well as his brother-in-law, his brother-in-law’s wife and their daughter.
“As I am speaking to you right now, I am saddened. All the people who have died are related to me by blood,” the family member said.
“Of the five people, there is my wife and my daughter. Then there is my brother-in-law, his wife, and his daughter. I am now left alone.”
Veteran driver questions reckless behaviour
The bereaved man, who has worked as a driver for more than 30 years, said his experience on the road had made him familiar with the Gilgil-Nakuru route and its risks.
He questioned why motorists continue to engage in reckless behaviour despite knowing the dangers associated with the highway.
“My profession involves driving, which I have done for over 30 years. I am very familiar with this route, and I cannot understand why drivers drive so recklessly knowing very well how dangerous this route is,” he said.
His comments have placed road-user behaviour at the centre of the conversation following the crash, even as authorities continue investigating the specific circumstances that led to the collision.
How the Kikopey accident happened
The Easy Coach bus was travelling from Gilgil towards Nakuru when it collided head-on with the Toyota IST, which was travelling from the direction of Lake Nakuru.
Preliminary reports indicated that the bus had reportedly lost its brakes before the collision.
The Toyota IST carried five people, all of whom died in the crash. Its driver was among those killed.
An eyewitness described the severity of the collision, saying one woman who was holding a child became trapped between the two vehicles.
The impact left the occupants of the private car fatally injured, with rescuers later using towing vehicles to separate the vehicles and retrieve the bodies.
One person survived the crash with injuries and was taken to Nakuru County Referral Hospital for treatment.
Some passengers travelling on the Easy Coach bus also sustained minor injuries, but no deaths were reported among the bus passengers.
What the crash says about road safety
The Kikopey accident has once again drawn attention to the dangers associated with the Gilgil-Nakuru Highway and the importance of responsible driving.
Speeding, dangerous overtaking, failure to maintain vehicles and other forms of unsafe road use can increase the risk of serious crashes. However, it has not yet been established that any of these factors caused the Kikopey collision.
The reported brake failure involving the Easy Coach bus is also a key aspect of the investigation, as mechanical problems can make it difficult for drivers to control heavy vehicles, particularly in situations requiring sudden braking.
The family member’s account highlights the human cost of such incidents.
In this case, a single collision resulted in the deaths of five members of the same extended family, leaving one relative mourning his wife, daughter and three other close family members.
Police investigate fatal collision
Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Winston Mwakio said investigations into the accident had commenced.
Police are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported brake failure and determine how the two vehicles ended
