A 12-year-old boy dies in a bus accident involving a football team in Nairobi

A 12-year-old boy was tragically killed after a bus he was traveling in, transporting a football team, overturned at the Southern Bypass-ICD flyover in Nairobi.

At least 25 other children between the ages of 10 and 16 were also injured in the accident, which took place on Saturday evening, November 23.

The group, part of a football team from an estate in Syokimau, was returning home after football training at the Soccer Talent Ground along Ngong Road.

According to witnesses, the accident happened when their rented minibus entered the ICD road. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to leave the road, hit a guardrail and roll downhill before landing on its side.

The injured children were rushed to different hospitals, of which the condition of 16 children was stable.

Spokesman of the National Police, Dr. Resila Onyango, confirmed the details, adding that the three adults who accompanied the children – their coach and two guardians – along with the driver, also reported injuries but were being treated and are recovering.

The 12-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries while being treated at a city hospital.

The incident has reignited concerns over the rising number of fatal road accidents in Kenya. According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), common causes of such accidents include tire bursting, loss of control of vehicles, collision incidents and improper overtaking leading to head-on collisions.

In response to the increasing number of road fatalities, NTSA presented the National Road Safety Action Plan (2023-2027) in October 2023.

The plan aims to reduce the number of deaths from road accidents and serious injuries by 50 percent within designated risk corridors and urban areas.

Saturday’s tragic accident underlines the urgent need for stricter enforcement of road safety measures and increased vigilance of road users to curb these avoidable tragedies.

Authorities continue their investigation into the cause of the crash.