A tragic road crash occurred on June 15, 2026, along the busy Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, resulting in a multi-vehicle collision that claimed the life of a driver. The evening rush hour incident disrupted traffic for several hours at the Karai area in Naivasha as rescue teams and police worked to clear the extensive wreckage.
The deceased motorist was identified by authorities as Senior Superintendent of Police John Rioba, who served as the County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) for Nyandarua County. According to a report from the Naivasha Police Station, the incident began when a Sinotruk commercial truck travelling from Nairobi towards Nakuru lost control. The heavy truck rammed into a Toyota Land Cruiser carrying two European nationals.
The initial impact forced the truck into the oncoming lane, initiating a chain-reaction collision that ultimately involved nine vehicles, including private cars, public service matatus, and lorries. Rioba, who was driving an Isuzu D-Max utility vehicle, sustained severe injuries when his vehicle was struck during the multi-car pileup.
Members of the public at the scene assisted emergency responders, during which a civilian recovered a loaded Ceska pistol belonging to the senior officer and secured it with a nearby police officer. Rioba was rushed to the Naivasha Sub-County Hospital, where medical personnel pronounced him dead on arrival.
The two foreign nationals in the Toyota Land Cruiser escaped with minor injuries, while another passenger in the pileup, Uasin Gishu Member of the County Assembly Regina Chumba, was hospitalized with chest injuries. All nine damaged vehicles were towed to the Naivasha Police Station for mechanical inspection. Local authorities confirmed that the driver of the truck fled the scene immediately after the crash, and a police search has been launched to apprehend the suspect as investigations into the incident continue.