Seven Killed, 11 Injured in Kikopey Accident.
A devastating road accident along the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway at Kikopey, near Gilgil, claimed the lives of seven people and left 11 others injured on Monday, January 19, 2026.
The horrific crash occurred in the afternoon when a truck heading towards Nakuru suddenly lost control, veered into the opposite lane, and rammed into two matatus traveling in the opposite direction. Five victims died instantly at the scene, while two more succumbed to their injuries later at St. Mary’s Hospital in Gilgil.
Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Wilstone Mwakio confirmed the details, attributing the incident to the truck driver losing control — with some reports pointing to possible speeding and brake failure as contributing factors.
Eyewitness Simon Kosgei called for stricter measures, saying: “Trailer drivers should be vetted and monitored due to the rising road carnage they are involved in due to careless driving.”
Local resident Douglas Waweru highlighted the recurring danger on this stretch: “Drivers are tired as they come from Mombasa heading to Malaba. The road should be expanded because we are witnessing so many accidents from here.”
This latest incident adds to the long list of tragedies on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, with residents noting a similar fatal crash in the same area just two weeks earlier that claimed six lives. Calls for road expansion, better signage, and tougher enforcement against reckless long-distance driving continue to grow.
The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, while authorities are investigating the exact cause. Road safety advocates are urging immediate action to curb the alarming rate of accidents on Kenya's major highways.
