Waiyaki Way accident: Lorry carrying over 50 stowaways crashes near expressway

The accidents occurred just around the Westlands Expressway exit point at around 5:30pm.

According to witnesses, the lorry was travelling from the general direction of Westlands Town – heading towards Kangemi and was dangerously loaded with people.

A traffic police officer at the scene told Wananchi Reporting that the driver of the lorry lost control and rammed a concrete wall demarcating the highway – before crashing on the hard tarmac.

“One person has died as a result of the accident, while over 25 sustained serious injuries,” said the officer.

Most of the injured lay on the tarmac as others were loaded onto waiting ambulances. There were over five ambulances at the scene . The accident caused traffic snarl up along the busy road.

Reports indicate that those on the lorry had hitched a ride, because they didn't have bus fare.

Isaac Lutomia, who was on the fateful lorry, was left walking with a limp – and a broken phone.

“A friend of mine invited me to join them hike a free ride to Kangeni. It was my first time boarding the lorry,” he said.

A Good Samaritan offered Lutomia, who also lost his shoes in the accident, some Sh200 to help him get home. 

Lutomia, who resides in Kangemi, said he hitched a ride on the lorry at Westlands town, together with a crowd of other people.

“I see these lorries passing on the road carrying sometimes up to 100 people – most of them hanging dangerously,” said Samson Wafula, a trader along the Waiyaki Way.

Residents want traffic police officers to caution lorries and trucks that often carry hundreds of stowaways who hang dangerously on the edges of the speeding lorries.

Most of the injured were rushed to different hospitals around the city as others, like Lutomia, limped home with stories to tell.