A police recruit has died and at least 24 others were injured after a vehicle rammed into a group of trainees during their normal morning jog along the Marua-Chaka Road in Kiganjo, Nyeri County.
The tragic accident took place on Friday, January 23, 2026, as the recruits were running on the left side of the road from Chaka going towards their training college in Kiganjo. According to the police, the vehicle, Toyota Fielder, was being driven in a high speed and it struck the group under circumstances that are still under investigation.
Initial reports indicate that the police officers had attempted to stop the vehicle few moments before the crash, but the driver allegedly failed to comply and kept driving, eventually running into the recruits.
One recruit, aged 20, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.
The remaining 24 recruits sustained multiple injuries and were rushed to a local health facility, and although their conditions were not immediately disclosed, they are still receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, the driver of the vehicle was detained by the police as investigations commenced. The body of the deceased recruit was transferred to a mortuary, waiting for a postmortem examination and inspection of the vehicle that caused the accident.
The officers described the incident as one of several fatal road accidents recorded overnight across the country. In total, five people lost their lives in separate accidents, including a passenger, three pedestrians and a motorcycle rider.
This crash comes amid growing concerns over road safety all over the country. According to the authorities, approximately 300 people have lost their lives in road accidents this month alone, with more than 600 others sustaining injuries. Many of the injured are currently still undergoing treatment in hospitals across the country.
Kenyan government, through relevant agencies, is currently running a campaign to curb the high number of road accidents. Officials estimate that close to 5,000 people were killed in road accidents in 2025.
Reckless overtaking, speeding and drunk driving have been identified as the leading causes of the accidents, despite the ongoing public awareness campaigns by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
Additionally, mechanical failures due to poor vehicle maintenance, as well as unsafe road conditions such as potholes, confusing signage and inadequate lighting have also been cited to be among major contributors to the rising number of accidents in the country.
