12-Year-Old Dies, 25 Injured in Football Team Bus Accident in Syokimau

Tragedy struck in Syokimau, Nairobi on Saturday evening when a minibus accident claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy and left at least 25 other children with injuries.

The victims, children between 10 and 16 years old, were members of a soccer team returning from their training session at the Soccer Talent Ground on Ngong Road. According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred as the hired minibus attempted to merge onto the ICD road. The driver lost control of the vehicle which struck a guardrail before rolling down a slope and coming to rest on its side. Emergency responders transported the injured children to various medical facilities, where sixteen were reported to be in stable condition.

National Police Spokesperson Dr. Resila Onyango confirmed that the coach and two guardians along with the vehicle's driver sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical care. Tragically, the 12-year-old victim succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a city hospital. This devastating incident has brought renewed attention to Kenya's concerning rise in fatal road accidents. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has identified several primary causes of such incidents, including tyre failures, loss of vehicle control, hit-and-run collisions, and accidents resulting from unsafe overtaking manoeuvres.

In recognition of this growing crisis, the NTSA introduced the National Road Safety Action Plan (2023-2027) in October 2023, which sets an ambitious target of reducing road crash fatalities and severe injuries by 50 per cent within identified high-risk corridors and urban areas. In April 2024, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) released alarming statistics showing 7,198 Kenyans were affected by road accidents in the first quarter of the year.

The data revealed 1,189 fatalities, 3,316 serious injuries, and 2,693 minor injuries, marking a significant increase from 2023's figures. Pedestrians recorded the highest death toll at 436, followed by motorcyclists at 276 and passengers at 255. Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between authorities and citizens to address road safety concerns.