Six people lost their lives last night after a lorry carrying scrap metal lost its brakes and rammed into boda boda operators and bystanders at Kipsitet trading centre along the Kericho–Kisumu highway.
The accident, which occurred around 10:30 pm, left four others critically injured. They were rushed to Kericho County Referral Hospital for treatment.According to eyewitnesses, the ill-fated lorry was descending towards Kisumu when its brakes failed.
“The driver hooted several times to alert the boda boda operators and other people nearby, but it was too late,” said Erick Otieno, who witnessed the incident.
Following the crash, angry residents barricaded the busy Kericho–Kisumu road, accusing authorities of neglect and slow response to emergencies. They faulted the county government for failing to replace broken streetlights and for not designating a proper stage for boda boda operators at the centre.
The protests caused a major traffic snarl-up as police moved in to restore order. Residents vowed to continue pressing for accountability, insisting that despite paying taxes, their safety concerns have been repeatedly ignored.
Police have since launched investigations into the cause of the accident, as families mourn their loved ones and the community grapples with yet another road tragedy.