NTSA: Nyeri accident that claimed 15 lives likely preventable

Preliminary investigations into the grisly road accident that claimed 15 lives along the Nyeri–Nyahururu road have pointed to human error, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has said.

NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa revealed that early findings indicate reckless driving, excessive speeding, and the use of an unroadworthy lorry as the likely causes of the crash.

The accident, which has sent shockwaves across the country, is now the subject of an intensive multi-agency investigation.

“I want to be unequivocal: If these suspicions are confirmed, this was a preventable catastrophe,” Kondiwa said in a statement.

According to the NTSA, investigators are working to establish the precise sequence of events that led to the deadly collision.

Kondiwa noted that the authority will leave no stone unturned in determining whether traffic rules were flouted and whether the vehicles involved met the required safety standards.

“We will scrutinise the roadworthiness of the commercial vehicles involved, the conduct of the drivers, and the adherence to traffic regulations,” he said.

As part of its immediate response, the authority has dispatched a team of experts to the scene to carry out a forensic reconstruction of the crash. The team is expected to gather critical evidence that will help piece together how the accident unfolded.

In addition, NTSA has launched an urgent audit of both the public service vehicle (PSV) operator and the owner of the lorry involved.

The audit aims to verify compliance with safety standards, licensing requirements, and operational procedures.

“We will be conducting an immediate audit of the PSV operator and the owner of the lorry to verify compliance with safety standards and licensing requirements,” Kondiwa stated.

The authority has also announced a major enforcement crackdown along the Nyeri–Nyahururu corridor and other key highways across the country.

The move is intended to weed out unroadworthy vehicles, particularly commercial trucks and PSVs, which have frequently been implicated in fatal accidents.

“We are ramping up enforcement along the Nyeri–Nyahururu corridor and other major highways to remove unroadworthy vehicles from our roads,” Kondiwa said.

He further extended heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims, describing the tragedy as a profound loss to the nation.

“On behalf of the National Transport and Safety Authority, and my own behalf, I extend my most sincere and profound condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the victims. This is a heartbreaking loss, and we share in the pain of those who have lost their loved ones,” he said.

Kondiwa added that NTSA is working closely with hospitals and emergency responders to ensure that the deceased are treated with dignity and that survivors receive urgent medical attention.

The NTSA boss also issued a stern warning to motorists, particularly commercial drivers, urging them to exercise caution and adhere strictly to traffic regulations.

“Recklessness on our roads is not a mistake; it is a choice that has deadly consequences,” he said. “We will ensure that any individual or entity found to have contributed to this tragedy through negligence or violation of traffic laws is held fully accountable.”

Further updates on the investigation are expected to be released as more details emerge.