It was just another busy morning at Daraja Mbili market in Kisii County. Traders were setting up their stalls, mothers were buying vegetables, and boda boda riders were transporting passengers to work. Then suddenly, everything changed in seconds.
A huge trailer truck came speeding down the hill from Kisii town. According to witnesses, the truck had lost its brakes. The driver had no control. People started screaming and running, but there was no time to escape.
The trailer first hit a tuk-tuk, then a Probox car, followed by several motorcycles. It didn’t stop there. The truck rammed into stalls where women were selling vegetables and fruits. It crushed everything in its path.
Eyewitnesses said the truck was moving too fast as it entered the market area. Panic spread instantly. People tried to get out of the way, but the road was too crowded. Many were hit. Some were thrown into the air. Others got trapped under the wreckage.
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The smell of fuel filled the air. Cries for help echoed through the market. Shocked onlookers rushed to pull out those trapped. Many were bleeding. Some had broken limbs. Others lay still.
According to the Motorists Association, the driver tried to swerve the truck to avoid a total disaster. But the road was narrow and crowded. His desperate move only caused more damage.
Gabriel Ondieki, one of the witnesses, said, “Our brothers have fatally lost their lives here. This is a notorious spot that has been harbouring accidents on several occasions.”
He added, “Three weeks ago, there was another accident in the same place. We want both the county and national governments to act quickly before more people die.”
The accident scene was heartbreaking. Fruits, vegetables, and market goods were scattered everywhere. Bodies lay on the ground, some covered with lesos. Children cried for their mothers. Others stood in silence, too shocked to speak.
Within minutes, police officers and medics from Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital arrived. The Kisii County Commander led the rescue team. They began moving the injured to ambulances. First aid was given on the spot.
Some victims were rushed to hospital in critical condition. Others were pronounced dead at the scene. The exact number of those who died is still not confirmed, but it is feared that several lives were lost.
Locals say Daraja Mbili is a known blackspot. Many accidents have happened there. But nothing has been done. They say it’s time for action, not words.
“The government keeps promising but doing nothing,” said another trader. “We need real change. We are tired of burying our people.”
Residents are now calling for urgent road improvements. They want the road expanded and turned into a dual carriageway. They believe this will reduce accidents and save lives.
They are also asking the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) to install speed bumps, warning signs, and guard rails.
Traders, drivers, and passengers want regular inspections of trucks using that road. They say most of them are poorly maintained and dangerous.
Many believe this accident could have been prevented. They blame both bad road design and poor truck maintenance.
As the day continued, many people gathered at the scene. Some came to look for missing loved ones. Others just wanted to see what had happened.
Social media was flooded with photos and videos of the crash. Hashtags like #DarajaMbiliCrash and #KisiiTragedy started trending across Kenya.
By evening, local leaders had started visiting the area. They promised to speak to national authorities. But the people of Daraja Mbili want more than promises. They want real action, and they want it now.
This tragedy is a painful reminder of the dangers on Kenya’s roads. It shows how a single mechanical failure can destroy many lives.
Families are now mourning. Market traders are counting their losses. And the entire town of Kisii is in shock.
The people are demanding justice. They want safety. And they don’t want to lose another life on the same deadly stretch of road again.
