Seven dead, several injured in Kericho accident

By Nikko Tanui

Kericho, Kenya: Seven people perished in a grisly road accident involving a matatu and a private car along Nakuru-Kericho highway Thursday evening.

The accident that happened near Chagaik Tea factory junction, only 10kms from Kericho town, occurred after the driver of the private car, which was heading to Kericho, lost control and veered off its lane ramming onto an oncoming matatu.

A witness Jared Morena said the accident happened a few minutes to 5pm and good Samaritans helped in rescuing the injured passengers who were rushed to nearby hospitals.

“I was in a vehicle which was behind the private car and all of a sudden it started wobbling before ramming onto an oncoming matatu. The impact threw out some passengers and six died on the spot,” Morena told The Standard.

The matatu belongs to Operators Sacco.

Four occupants of the private vehicle died, while three were in the matatu. Kericho County acting commissioner William Lekakimon confirmed that 18 people were rushed to Kericho District Hospital and four are in a critical condition.