Five people have died and 21 others were injured after a lorry ferrying traders to a market overturned along the Ikutha-Kasaala Road in Kitui County. According to a police report cited by Citizen Digital, the accident involved a Mitsubishi Canter that was carrying traders travelling to Kasaala Market. The vehicle overturned after losing control on the road near Matulu Shopping Centre. The five victims died at the scene. The deceased comprised one man and four women, with their bodies transferred to the mortuary at Mutomo Level IV Sub-County Hospital. The 21 injured passengers were taken to Ikutha Level IV Hospital, where they received medical attention following the crash.
Images from the scene showed the white lorry lying upside down by the roadside, with several victims lying on the ground as residents and emergency responders carried out rescue efforts. The latest tragedy has renewed concerns over road safety even as it comes amid a surge in road accidents across the country.
Police have launched investigations to establish the circumstances that led to the accident. A police report indicated that efforts were also under way to remove the lorry from the scene, with authorities awaiting a breakdown vehicle to tow it away. The exact cause of the crash had not been established at the time of reporting. Investigators are expected to examine the condition of the vehicle, road conditions and the circumstances under which the driver lost control. The accident has once again drawn attention to the risks associated with transporting passengers in goods vehicles, particularly in rural areas where traders sometimes rely on lorries to travel to and from markets.
The lorry was reportedly carrying traders heading to Kasaala Market, highlighting the role of road transport in connecting residents to local markets and commercial centres. The Ikutha-Kasaala road serves communities in Kitui South, with the county government listing the route among roads targeted for improvement. Kasaala is also identified as one of the local markets serving the Ikutha area. The latest crash adds to a wider concern over road safety in Kitui and other parts of the country, where accidents involving overloaded or improperly used vehicles continue to expose passengers to serious risks.
Authorities have repeatedly urged motorists and passengers to observe traffic regulations and avoid practices that increase the likelihood of fatal crashes. For the families of those killed, however, the immediate concern is mourning their loved ones, while the 21 injured victims continue receiving treatment. Police investigations will determine the precise circumstances of the crash and whether any offences were committed.