Embu, Kenya — A devastating road accident along the Embu-Nairobi Highway has left one person dead and two others critically injured. The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, near the sewage area, causing significant traffic disruptions and raising concerns over road safety.
The horrific crash involved two lorries—one transporting maize and the other carrying firewood—and a passenger bus operated by Tahmeed Bus Company. According to eyewitness accounts, one of the lorries heading towards Nairobi suffered brake failure, leading it to ram into another lorry that was undergoing inspection by Embu County enforcement officers at a roadblock. The impact resulted in a catastrophic pile-up, trapping both lorry drivers in their cabins.
Rescue operations were hampered by the lack of proper equipment, forcing police and local residents to spend over an hour cutting through the mangled wreckage to free the victims. The police, with the assistance of a breakdown truck and community members, managed to separate the vehicles to reach the trapped drivers. Unfortunately, one driver was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was rushed to a nearby county hospital in critical condition. An eyewitness lamented that the absence of efficient rescue tools might have contributed to the fatality.
Francis Ndirangu, the coordinator of the Kirimari Ward rescue team, confirmed that all passengers aboard the Tahmeed bus escaped unharmed. “The passengers in the bus were fortunate to escape without injuries,” Ndirangu remarked.
The accident has reignited concerns over the enforcement of vehicle maintenance standards and the adequacy of emergency response mechanisms on Kenyan highways. Authorities are urging transport operators to prioritize regular vehicle maintenance to prevent such tragedies.
Investigations into the accident are ongoing as police work to determine the exact cause of the brake failure and assess accountability.
Motorists using the Embu-Nairobi Highway are advised to exercise caution as authorities continue to clear the scene and restore normal traffic flow.
