At least three people have been killed in a grisly road crash near Masimba market in Kajiado County.
The Tuesday morning collision involved a matatu belonging to Semaka Sacco and a lorry on the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
The dead included one occupant of the lorry and two passengers in the ill-fated matatu that was mangled to a shell as a result of the impact of the crash.
The 7.30am smash left some of the passengers trapped in the matatu that plies the Nairobi-Kibwezi route.
The injured were rescued and taken to Kibwezi Sub-County Hospital, some in critical conditions.
The matatu was heading towards Kibwezi when the crash happened.
Witnesses who arrived at the scene shortly after the crash scene had separately told Nation that they had counted five bodies.
“The matatu got a rear tyre burst and lost control before it collided head-on with the lorry which was heading towards Nairobi,” Makindu Traffic Commandant James Rasungu told the Nation.
“The two vehicles overturned. Two passengers from the matatu and a passenger from the truck died on the spot. Six passengers sustained very serious injuries and were rushed to Makindu Sub-County Hospital.”
There was a heavy traffic snarl-up in the area as motorists pulled over the shoulders of the busy highway to catch a glimpse of the wrecks.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story had stated that six people died in the crash. Police have since restated that only three have been confirmed dead.