By DUNCAN WASWA
March 10, 2026| Fourteen people are dead and more than 30 others nursing injuries in hospital after a horrific chain-reaction accident at Malaha Junction on Monday night—where a trailer ploughed into a crowd that had gathered to help victims of an initial motorcycle collision.
The devastating incident, which occurred around 9:45 p.m. along the busy Webuye–Kitale highway, has left a community in mourning and prompted an urgent manhunt for the trailer driver who fled the scene.
According to Webuye Sub-County Police Commander Rosemary Odeke, the tragedy unfolded in two catastrophic acts. The first involved a head-on collision between two motorcycles—a TVS Star bearing registration KMDA 011X travelling from Webuye towards Kitale, and another TVS Star, KMET 602J, approaching from the opposite direction. Neither rider was wearing a helmet. Both died on impact.
What followed was a disaster of compounding horror. As well-meaning members of the public rushed to the scene to rescue the injured, a Mercedes-Benz trailer (KAW 443T/ZC 5296), heading from Kitale towards Webuye, lost control and mowed into the gathered crowd.
“The second crash resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 14,” Odeke confirmed. The trailer driver reportedly abandoned the vehicle and disappeared into the night.
More than 30 injured victims were rushed to Webuye County Hospital, where health officials report a mix of critical and stable conditions. Emergency responders worked through the night to clear wreckage, as the bodies of the deceased were transferred to the Webuye Sub-County Hospital mortuary awaiting identification and post-mortem examinations.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has sent condolences to grieving families while issuing a stark warning to road users. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident,” Lusaka stated. “This unfortunate tragedy is a painful reminder to all road users to exercise extra caution. I urge motorists to drive carefully, observe traffic rules, and remain vigilant at all times, particularly during the rainy season when roads become slippery and visibility is often reduced.”
Police have launched investigations to trace the fleeing driver and have appealed for witnesses to come forward. The incident, recorded at Webuye Police Station under OB 64/9/3/2026, serves as a grim testament to how quickly a rescue mission can transform into additional tragedy when safety protocols are abandoned at accident scenes.
Authorities are now emphasising the importance of proper traffic management at crash sites and urging the public to prioritise alerting emergency services before attempting physical rescues on busy highways.
Good reporting, Duncan