A journey to a rice planting site ended in tragedy on Saturday morning after a parcel truck slammed into a tuk-tuk along the Mwea-Embu Highway in Kirinyaga County, killing eight people and leaving three others injured.
The fatal crash occurred at Murubara in Mwea East after the truck, which was travelling from Mwea towards Embu, collided with the tuk-tuk that was heading towards Ngurubani. The impact also struck pedestrians who were walking beside the road.
People who witnessed the crash, among them Bishop Carson and John Muriuki, said the parcel truck was speeding before it rammed head-on into the tuk-tuk.
Mwea East Sub-County Police Commander Stephen Okal confirmed the accident, saying all eight victims died at the scene.
The tuk-tuk had been hired to transport farm workers from Kimbimbi to the Mwea Irrigation Research area, where they were expected to carry out rice planting activities.
Police said five of those who lost their lives were occupants of the parcel truck. Two pedestrians who were caught in the crash also died, while the eighth victim was travelling in the tuk-tuk.
The truck driver escaped with minor injuries and was later arrested as investigations into the cause of the crash got underway.
Three people survived the accident with injuries. Two were admitted to Kimbimbi Hospital for treatment, while another who was seriously hurt was transferred to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to Kerugoya Mortuary.
Residents who responded to the scene claimed the truck driver appeared to lose control while attempting to avoid potholes on the highway before crashing into the tuk-tuk and hitting pedestrians.
Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the accident.