At least six people have died after a saloon car collided head-on with a truck in the Soy Sambu area of Gilgil, along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway.

According to Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Winston Mwakio, “the crash occurred around 4 am when the saloon car attempted to overtake another vehicle and rammed into an oncoming truck. All six occupants of the car died on the spot.”

The wreckage was towed to Gilgil Police Station, while the bodies were moved to Gilgil Sub-County Hospital Mortuary for identification following the Saturday, October 25, 2025, accident.

The latest accident brings to ten the number of people killed between Friday evening and Saturday morning in separate crashes along major highways in the region.

Police reported that four other people, including three pedestrians and a driver, also died in separate incidents, while seven others sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Concern over rising road deaths

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has expressed concern over the increasing number of fatal accidents despite intensified safety campaigns. Between January and March 2025, the agency recorded 1,139 fatalities, a slight decrease from 1,166 deaths reported during the same period in 2024. However, from June 2024 to March 2025, road deaths rose to 3,581—representing a 10 per cent increase.

Pedestrians remain the most affected, accounting for 420 deaths in the first quarter of 2025, followed by motorcyclists at 301. NTSA attributes the high number of fatalities to unsafe overtaking, speeding, drunk driving, tyre bursts and poorly maintained vehicles.

Safety measures ahead of festive season

Police have urged motorists to observe traffic rules and avoid risky driving behaviour, especially during early morning and night hours. “This kind of overtaking on a busy national highway is recklessly dangerous,” Mwakio said, adding that investigations into the Gilgil crash are ongoing.

With the festive season approaching, a period known for increased travel, the government has intensified enforcement operations. Multi-agency teams are conducting road safety audits, implementing alcohol breath tests, and carrying out awareness campaigns targeting drivers, riders and pedestrians.

The NTSA estimates that Kenya loses about Ksh450 billion annually due to road crashes, underscoring the need for continuous road safety vigilance.