Car hits and kills police recruit, injures 24 others in Kiganjo, Nyeri County

A police recruit was Friday killed when a speeding car rammed onto a group of recruits on a morning jog along Marua-Chaka Road in Kiganjo, Nyeri County.

The driver also hit and injured 24 other recruits in the tragedy on Friday January 23, 2026, police said.

The driver who was in a Toyota Fielder car was blamed for the accident after he allegedly failed to stop as directed by police.

The recruits were on a morning run exercise when the incident happened.

Police said the driver hit the recruits who were jogging on the left side of the road from Chaka direction to their college in Kiganjo and fatally injured the deceased who was aged 20. He was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital.

The other 24 injured recruits were taken to the local hospital with multiple injuries.

The driver was detained as the body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy and inspection of the car.

Police said they are investigating the tragedy.

The recruit was among five people who were Friday morning killed in separate road accidents. The victims included three pedestrians, a passenger and a rider.

This increased to more than 300, the number of people killed in accidents so far this month, police said.

The police said they are investigating the incidents. More than 600 people have been injured in the accidents so far reported this month. The victims are nursing wounds in various health institutions.

There is a campaign to address the accident menace in the country. Close to 5,000 people were killed in separate accidents in 2025.

Officials say reckless overtaking, speeding, and drunk driving remain among the leading causes of road accidents across the country, continuing to claim lives despite sustained public safety campaigns by National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). Mechanical failures from poorly maintained vehicles, including worn tyres and faulty brakes, have also been identified as significant contributors to the growing number of crashes. In addition to driver negligence, poor road conditions such as potholes, confusing signage, and inadequate lighting make travel increasingly hazardous.

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