Four people lost their lives late on Saturday night following a road accident along the Kibwezi-Kitui road in Makueni County.
According to police, the collision occurred at around 11pm, claiming three lives instantly. Two other passengers were rushed to Kibwezi AMREF Hospital, but one succumbed to injuries shortly after arrival.
The remaining survivor is in critical condition and undergoing treatment.
Kibwezi Base Commander Morris Situma said the victims were travelling from a dowry ceremony and were headed home in anticipation of a wedding scheduled for next Saturday.
The vehicle they were in is said to have lost control under unclear circumstances, though investigations are underway to determine the cause.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos as passers-by rushed to help before emergency responders arrived. “It happened so fast — all we heard was the screech and then the crash,” said one local resident. “We tried to pull them out before the police came.”
The tragedy was one of five separate road accidents reported in the region on Saturday night alone, a reminder of Kenya’s mounting road safety concerns.
Authorities say they are intensifying patrols and checks along major highways, particularly during weekends when traffic surges due to social functions.
Commander Situma urged motorists to exercise caution, noting that most fatal accidents stem from speeding, fatigue, or impaired driving. “These are preventable losses. We cannot keep losing lives on our roads this way,” he said.
The bodies of the deceased have been taken to the Kibwezi AMREF Hospital mortuary, while police prepare their report for the inquest.
Families of the victims have been notified and arrangements for post-mortem examinations are being made.
