Former Chief Justice David Maraga’s campaign team escaped serious injury in a road accident near Nyamira late on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The group was heading back after attending a memorial service for victims of recent fatal crashes in the area.
The service honoured people killed in two big accidents earlier this month. One happened on December 13 along the Kericho-Nyamira road near Ekerenyo, where eight people died in a head-on collision between a matatu and a trailer. The next day, on December 14, another crash at Chabera on the Kisii-Kisumu highway took at least 12 lives. Many victims in both were from the same families or groups travelling together.
Team members say the crash felt sudden. Their vehicle got damaged, but everyone walked away. One survivor, Mavin Mabonga, told local reporters it seemed like a miracle. Another, Lewis Ngunyi, said they had bruises and aches but no broken bones. He credited seatbelts for keeping things from getting worse.
Doctors checked the group at a nearby hospital. Maraga was not in the vehicle. He stayed in contact by phone while they got treatment. Sources close to him say he felt relieved no one died.
Maraga has been active in Nyamira County lately. He comes from there originally. In October, he picked the United Green Movement party for his 2027 presidential run. The retired judge talks a lot about fighting corruption and protecting the environment. He also pushes for better governance and rule of law.
Road safety has become a big issue in Kenya this December. Official numbers show over 4,600 people died in accidents all year. That’s more than last year. Many crashes happen on busy highways like the ones around Nyamira and Kisii. Drivers speeding, bad overtaking, and heavy trucks losing control come up often in reports.
Police and transport officials have stepped up checks for the holidays. They warn about night travel and overloaded vehicles. But accidents keep happening. Families in Nyamira are still burying loved ones from the mid-December crashes when this latest one hit Maraga’s team.
The incident brings attention again to dangerous spots on those roads. Locals call sections near Ekerenyo and Chabera black spots. Calls for fixes like speed bumps or better signs go back years.
Maraga’s team plans to keep campaigning. They focus on grassroots meetings in western Kenya and other regions. The former judge has said road safety fits into his bigger message about responsible leadership.
No one faced life-threatening injuries this time. But the close call reminds everyone how quickly things can go wrong on Kenyan highways. Travel picks up now with Christmas coming. Authorities ask drivers to slow down and stay alert.
