More than 55 people are feared dead and several others hospitalised in Kericho County following a tragic accident that occurred at Londiani junction on Friday evening.
The 7pm accident occurred after a truck lost control, running over pedestrians, business people and matatus which were parked by the roadside.
The truck also crashed into hawkers selling roasted maize, vegetables, cabbages and oranges by the roadside on the Muhoroni turn-off.
Confirming the incident, Rift Valley regional commissioner Abdi Hassan said the death toll had risen to 55 as at around 12.30pm as other victims succumbed to injuries while being rushed to hospital.
Speaking at the scene of the accident, Dr Hassan added that two bodies are trapped at the scene where about 30 people were injured.
At around 9pm, Londiani police boss Agnes Kunga confirmed that at least 20 people had perished and tens had been rushed to various health facilities in Nakuru and Kericho for treatment.
“We have lost more than 20 people in the horrific accident. Dozens of others have been rushed to various hospitals including Londiani, Molo sub-county and Nakuru Level Five hospitals,” said Ms Kunga.
“It is a very bad accident. Several people are feared dead while others are trapped in the wreckage in the pile-up.”
Initial reports indicated that more than 20 people died on the spot with an unknown number still trapped in the wreckage.
“We have moved more than 20 bodies to the mortuary but others are still trapped in the vehicles. An official statement will be out once we reconcile the numbers,” a senior police officer told Nation.Africa at around 9pm.
A doctor at the Londiani sub-county hospital has said by press time that more than 50 victims were being attended to at the facility.
An unknown number of victims are also said to have been rushed by good samaritans to various hospitals spread between the two counties of Nakuru and Kericho.
Rescue efforts are being coordinated by the police with darkness and a drizzle hampering the efforts.
All major hospitals in the region responded to the accident by dispatching their ambulances and having medics on standby to deal with the emergency.
The county government of Kericho dispatched all its ambulances to the scene with the Kenya Red Cross Society responding to the emergency.
