Tragedy on the Kisii-Sotik Highway: Multiple Lives Lost as Timber Lorry Sparks Devastating Nyamira Multi-Vehicle Crash

A horrifying road accident in Kijauri Town, Borabu Constituency, Nyamira County, has left at least five people dead and many others injured in yet another tragic chapter on the infamous Kisii-Sotik Highway. The devastating crash occurred on the afternoon of Friday, July 11, sending shockwaves across the region. 

Eyewitnesses and early reports suggest that a lorry overloaded with timber lost control while descending a steep slope, veering off its lane before colliding head-on with a matatu and a private car near a bustling local shopping centre.  

The lorry’s wreckage was left mangled beside a wall, and disturbing images from the scene show the matatu and car extensively damaged, raising fears that more lives could be unaccounted for. 

Though official figures are yet to be confirmed by local authorities, emergency responders quickly rushed to the scene in an effort to save lives and secure the area.  

However, several eyewitnesses believe that some of the victims may have been pedestrians or shopkeepers stationed near the shopping centre—an area reduced to chaos and destruction in the wake of the crash. 

This stretch of road, known locally as a “killer highway,” has developed a deadly reputation due to its steep gradients and frequent accidents. The July 11 tragedy tragically mirrors previous fatal incidents that have plagued the Kisii-Sotik route in recent months. 

Just a few weeks earlier, on Monday, April 7, a Subaru collided head-on with a trailer at Bobaracho, resulting in two confirmed deaths and three injuries. Kisii County Police Commander Ronald Kirui blamed the crash on the Subaru driver’s failure to remain in his lane. 

And on Saturday, April 5, tragedy struck again when a crash involving three vehicles claimed 13 lives and left 11 others critically injured, once more underlining the lethal nature of this highway. 

Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the July 11 crash, and pressure is now mounting on the government to act decisively.  

Locals are calling for urgent safety reforms, including stricter enforcement of loading regulations, installation of speed bumps, and proper road signage on this treacherous stretch.