The National Transport and Safety Authority has announced a crackdown on unroadworthy commercial vehicles after 15 people died in a Saturday accident along Nyeri- Nyahururu Highway saying the accident was preventable.
The crash occurred on Saturday evening along the Nyeri-Nyahururu highway, near Dedan Kimathi University. Witnesses described a harrowing scene as the lorry reportedly swerved to avoid cyclists before ramming into the public service vehicle (PSV).
In a strongly worded statement, the Director General of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) labeled the incident a “preventable catastrophe.”
While a formal investigation is underway, preliminary findings suggest a combination of reckless driving, speeding, and the use of an “unserviceable” lorry caused the driver to lose control.
“Recklessness on our roads is not a mistake; it is a choice that has deadly consequences,” the Director General said, promising that those found negligent would be held “fully accountable.”
President William Ruto led the nation in mourning, expressing his “deepest sympathies” to the families affected. He confirmed that both national and county governments would provide support to the bereaved.
The NTSA has now ordered an immediate “enforcement surge” across Kenya’s major corridors.
A multi-agency team has been dispatched to the Nyeri crash site to forensically reconstruct the accident.
Officials have also launched a safety audit of the companies involved, warning that unroadworthy commercial vehicles will be forcibly removed from the roads to prevent further loss of life.
