Several Feared Dead as Log Truck Overturns Onto Matatu on Bungoma-Eldoret Highway

Several people were feared dead and many others injured after a truck transporting logs overturned onto a 14-seater public service matatu along the Bungoma-Eldoret Highway on Saturday afternoon, trapping passengers beneath the wreckage.

The accident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. at Chimoi, a trading center along the busy highway, and involved a North Rift matatu and a truck loaded with logs.

Initial reports indicated the truck overturned before crashing onto the passenger vehicle, crushing its roof and leaving several occupants trapped inside.

Images and videos from the scene showed rescuers struggling to reach victims pinned inside the mangled matatu as cries for help echoed from beneath the wreckage.

Residents, motorists and emergency responders rushed to assist in the rescue operation. However, efforts were slowed by the absence of heavy lifting equipment needed to remove the truck from the crushed vehicle.

By Saturday evening, police had not released an official death toll or confirmed the number of injured passengers, as rescue operations remained underway.

The crash brought traffic to a standstill on the Bungoma-Eldoret Highway, with hundreds of vehicles backed up in both directions as emergency teams worked to rescue survivors and clear the road.

The Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDDCA) advised motorists to avoid the area or prepare for extended delays.

"The crash has caused a major traffic snarl-up. Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible," the association said in a statement.

The Chimoi accident came just hours after another serious crash on the Londiani-Muhoroni Highway in Kisumu County.

In that incident, which occurred at about 6 a.m., a lorry carrying sand reportedly lost control and collided with a transit truck transporting vegetables. A motorcycle traveling along the same stretch of road was also caught in the collision.

The impact left both trucks extensively damaged and blocked part of the highway, causing heavy traffic congestion as police, emergency responders and members of the public mounted rescue efforts.

Witnesses said several victims were trapped inside the wreckage, with the multi-vehicle crash complicating rescue operations.

The two accidents have renewed concerns over road safety on Kenya's highways, particularly involving heavy commercial vehicles, which continue to account for a significant number of fatal crashes.

Police said investigations into the cause of the Chimoi accident will begin after the rescue operation is completed and the scene has been cleared. Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution, especially along major transport corridors where traffic volumes remain high.