Six Killed, Scores Injured in Matatu-Truck Crash on Webuye-Bungoma Highway

At least six people died and scores sustained injuries when a Victory Shuttle matatu bound for Eldoret slammed into a trailer along the Webuye-Bungoma Highway. The crash occurred late Tuesday night in the Makotelo area of Mabanga.

Witnesses spoke of a violent impact that hurled debris across the road and into adjacent maize fields. Emergency responders faced difficult conditions as they extracted victims from the twisted wreckage. Images from the scene captured the mangled vehicles and bodies on the roadside.

Early indications point to the trailer crossing into the oncoming lane and hitting the matatu. Five passengers perished at the site, three men and two women, with identities still pending confirmation. Survivors with injuries were rushed to Bungoma County Referral Hospital.

Accounts from the matatu suggest it was moving from Webuye toward Bungoma without functioning headlights. Passengers reportedly asked the driver to pull over and address the lights, but he pressed on, saying he knew the road well. The collision struck around midnight.

One responder who reached the scene called on drivers to prioritise safety. “You cannot drive without lights,” the responder said, terming the destruction heartbreaking.

Locals blamed the poor state of the Webuye-Bungoma Highway for contributing to the tragedy. The corridor has recorded several fatal accidents before, fuelling demands for immediate action from road authorities.

Such incidents underline persistent road safety gaps in Kenya’s infrastructure network. The highway carries significant commercial traffic, including trucks ferrying construction materials to projects across western Kenya. Accidents here disrupt supply lines for KeNHA and county-level works.

Blackspots on this stretch often involve poor lighting, weak signage and deteriorating surfaces that worsen night-time driving risks. Construction fleets operating heavy equipment along these routes routinely face similar hazards.

The latest collision fits a pattern seen earlier this year on nearby sections of the Webuye-Kitale road, where multiple lives were also lost. It reinforces the call for consistent maintenance, better enforcement and targeted upgrades.

NTSA and relevant agencies have run operations against unroadworthy vehicles and reckless behaviour. Still, stakeholders push for wider improvements such as enhanced shoulders, rumble strips and lighting on dangerous segments.

Bungoma County and national road bodies are expected to conduct a full investigation. Findings may shape specific safety interventions on this vital corridor.

Reliable transport links remain essential to Kenya’s built environment. Freight for affordable housing schemes, road upgrades and agricultural logistics depends on safe highways. Repeated crashes raise costs and erode timelines for contractors.

Motorists on the route have been urged to stay alert, especially after dark, while investigations proceed.

Mjengo Hub sends its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident. Rest in peace. We also wish the injured a quick and full recovery.