Fourteen Dead as Out-of-Control Trailer Ploughs Into Vehicles at Kenya Highway Junction
Webuye, 10 March 2026
A runaway trailer killed 14 people and injured 30 others at Malaha junction on the Webuye-Kitale highway at 2am Tuesday morning. The long-distance lorry lost control and crashed into parked vehicles, motorcycles, and bystanders who had gathered after an initial collision between two motorbikes. The driver fled the scene, prompting a police manhunt. This latest tragedy on Kenya’s notoriously dangerous highways has renewed calls from political leaders for urgent road safety reforms. The incident highlights the persistent risks facing motorists and pedestrians on the country’s major transport corridors, where fatal accidents remain alarmingly common despite ongoing safety campaigns.
Tragedy Unfolds in Early Hours
The catastrophic accident occurred at approximately 2am on Tuesday morning at Malaha junction, a notorious bottleneck along the busy Webuye-Kitale highway in Bungoma County [2]. The sequence of events began with a head-on collision between two motorcycles, which drew a crowd of bystanders to the scene [2]. Amongst those who gathered were boda boda operators who had been waiting by the highway for passengers [2]. It was into this congregation of people and parked vehicles that the long-distance trailer, travelling from Kitale towards Webuye, veered off the road after reportedly losing control [2].
Conflicting Casualty Reports Emerge
Initial reports from Western Region Traffic Police Commander Walter Cheboren indicated that ten people had died and eleven were injured in the incident [1]. However, subsequent confirmation from Webuye East Sub-County Police Commander Rosemary Odeke revealed a higher death toll of 14 fatalities with 30 people injured [2]. The discrepancy in casualty figures reflects the chaotic nature of the scene and the ongoing efforts to establish the exact number of victims. The trailer had ploughed into several private vehicles, motorcycles, and pedestrians who had gathered at the junction [2]. Commander Odeke confirmed that investigations were continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash [2].
Driver Flees as Emergency Response Mobilises
In a development that has complicated the investigation, police report that the trailer driver is suspected to have fled from the scene immediately after the collision [2]. This has prompted authorities to launch a manhunt for the individual responsible for the devastating crash. Meanwhile, emergency services worked through the early morning hours to attend to casualties, with Western Region Traffic Police Commander Cheboren confirming that rescue efforts were ongoing [1]. The injured victims were rushed to Webuye County Hospital for urgent medical treatment, whilst the bodies of the deceased were transported to the same hospital’s mortuary pending formal identification and post-mortem examinations [2].
Highway Safety Concerns Resurface
This latest tragedy has once again highlighted the persistent dangers facing road users on Kenya’s major transport corridors [GPT]. The Webuye-Kitale highway serves as a critical link for commercial and passenger traffic in western Kenya, but its safety record has long been a source of concern for local authorities and road users alike [GPT]. Commander Odeke used the incident as an opportunity to urge motorists to exercise greater caution, particularly during night-time driving when visibility is reduced and the risks are heightened [2]. The accident represents yet another grim addition to Kenya’s road traffic fatality statistics, which consistently rank among the highest in the region [GPT].