
At least nine people lost their lives in a tragic road accident on Friday morning, January 3, along the Eldoret-Kitale Highway in the Soy area. The crash involved a Great Rift Shuttle public service vehicle and a lorry, which collided head-on, causing significant damage to the matatu’s front.
The driver of the matatu was among those who died in the accident, which occurred around 7 am. Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi stated that the lorry driver lost control and crashed into the oncoming matatu.
Following the collision, some passengers were trapped in the wreckage, with only three people—children—surviving with injuries. “The matatu had 12 passengers, and only three children survived,” confirmed the police commander.
Investigations into the cause of the accident are underway, which has become the deadliest crash so far in 2025. The local police have urged motorists to drive cautiously and avoid speeding.

Witnesses reported that the collision occurred on a narrow section of the road near Soy Market, with the matatu headed to Eldoret and the lorry returning to Kitale Town. Footage revealed several damaged vehicles, including a private car and another matatu.
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), 4,282 people lost their lives in road accidents between January and November of the previous year. Pedestrians accounted for 1,637 deaths, followed by motorcyclists (1,045), passengers (788), and drivers (369), with additional fatalities including 372 million passengers and 72 pedal cyclists.