At least seven people have been confirmed dead and several others injured Friday night, August 14, after a matatu lost control and plunged into a ditch in Kalembwani, Makueni County.
In a statement, Kenya Red Cross confirmed the incident, noting that the vehicle, carrying 54 passengers, veered off the road and rolled multiple times in the Muamba area of Nzakika Ward before coming to rest in the ditch, leaving numerous occupants trapped inside.
Initial reports indicate the matatu had departed from Nthongoni in Kibwezi and was bound for Katulye, where the passengers were set to attend a dowry ceremony.
The vehicle's route earlier described as running from Ivingoni Ward to Kyathi suggests the matatu was serving residents across several parts of the county before the crash.
The exact cause of the accident was not established immediately, with the police opening a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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A multi-agency response team mobilised at the scene, comprising officers from the Kenya Red Cross, the County Disaster Management office, and Kenya Police.
Injured survivors were evacuated to Makueni County Referral Hospital for treatment, paving the way for scene clearance operations.
Makueni Health Chief Officer Harvey Mulei confirmed that at least 37 people were injured and were consequently hospitalised.
The death toll of seven makes the incident one of the more severe road accidents recorded in Makueni County, with the high passenger count raising further concerns about loading practices on rural routes.
The accident occurred hours after another one at Kaura Mijii along the Chuka–Chogoria Road, where several people were feared to have lost their lives after the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a crash.
The Thursday morning, August 13 accident occurred when the driver of a Toyota Sienta reportedly lost control, veered off the road, and plunged into a ditch.
Initial reports suggest the vehicle was carrying mourners from Nairobi to Kiengu in Igembe Central, Meru, when the tragedy struck.
Images from the scene show the car badly wrecked, with debris scattered across the area.
Local residents rushed in immediately after the crash, working to rescue passengers trapped inside the mangled vehicle.
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