Five people lost their lives on Thursday evening after the vehicle they were traveling in lost control and hit a motorcycle carrying two passengers at the Maili Tisa along the Kajiado-Namanga highway.

Further, three others sustained serious injuries at the Namanga Health Centre, where they were rushed for treatment.

The private vehicle, which had five occupants, was heading to Namanga town from Kajiado.

Three people who were inside the vehicle died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries.

The motorbike driver and his two passengers were taken by ambulance to the Kajiado County Referral Hospital with critical injuries.

Eyewitnesses said that the car was moving quickly when it lost control and slammed into the motorbike coming from the other direction.

The motorbike was forced off the road as the car repeatedly rolled.

Oloililai sub-county police commander Hassan Elema confirmed the accident and urged motorists to exercise extra caution on the roads.

Elema said there has been an increase in road accidents along the Nairobi-Namanga Highway in the past few months and called on motorists to observe the Highway Code.

“It is unfortunate that we have lost 5 lives this evening. I want to urge all motorists to exercise extra caution on the road and boda boda riders to wear reflective jackets and helmets and carry only one passenger,” the officer said.

The bodies of the deceased were moved to the Kajiado County Referral Hospital, awaiting identification and post-mortem examination.