A horrific road accident along the Kisii-Kisumu highway in Chabera, Rachuonyo East Sub-County, Homa Bay County, claimed the lives of at least ten people and left several others injured.
The tragic incident occurred on the night of Sunday, December 14, involving two lorries and a private van. Police confirmed that the majority of the casualties were members of the same family, who were traveling from Kakamega County to Nyamaiya, Nyamira North, after attending a wedding ceremony.
The private van, carrying the family, was reportedly en route to Nyamira when the multi-vehicle crash transpired. The impact was so severe that the van was rendered a “visibly irredeemable twisted metal, with deflated tyres,” according to reports. Survivors of the crash were rushed to various medical facilities in the area, including Agoro Sare Hospital and Matata Nursing Home in Oyugis town.
Homabay Governor Gladys Wanga extended her condolences to the affected families and pledged the county’s full support for the injured and bereaved. She also emphasized the critical need for road users to exercise extreme caution. Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo also expressed deep concern over the rising number of fatal accidents, calling on relevant authorities to intervene and curb the rampant carnages.
Just a day prior, on Saturday, December 13, eight people died in Nyamira County after a matatu collided with a trailer. Additionally, former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo was killed in a separate road accident on the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway in the early hours of Saturday.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has reported an alarming increase in road deaths. As of early December 2025, 4,458 people had lost their lives in road accidents, already surpassing the total of 4,311 deaths recorded throughout the entire year of 2024.
The NTSA attributes most accidents to unsafe road behaviors such as overspeeding, driver fatigue, drunk driving, dangerous overtaking, and lane indiscipline.
Pedestrians remain the most vulnerable, accounting for the highest number of fatalities, followed by motorcyclists and their passengers.
Authorities continue to urge motorists and all road users to prioritize safety, ensure vehicle roadworthiness, and strictly adhere to traffic rules, emphasizing that road safety is a shared responsibility especially this festive season.
