Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich escaped unhurt after a road accident at Chepkoilel Junction in Uasin Gishu County on Monday morning. His official vehicle, a grey Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, collided with a boda boda rider at about 8am. The crash happened at the busy junction on the Eldoret-Iten Road, according to Capital FM and Kenyans.co.ke.
Photographs from the scene showed heavy damage to the front of the car. Kenyans.co.ke reported that the bonnet, front grille, bumper and headlights were damaged. Capital FM said all occupants of the vehicle escaped injury. Initial reports cited by Capital FM said an official government driver was at the wheel, not the governor himself.
Accounts of the rider's condition differ. Capital FM reported that the rider was taken to a nearby health facility for examination and was later stable. An earlier Kenyans.co.ke report said it was still unclear whether the rider or any other road user was hurt. The cause of the collision has not been made public.
Residents crowded around the damaged vehicle, and traffic police arrived shortly after the crash. Images circulating afterwards showed Rotich standing beside a traffic police officer, apparently discussing the incident.
The accident came a day after Rotich publicly clashed with his deputy, Prof Grace Cheserek, at an empowerment event in Kapyego, Elgeyo Marakwet County. Capital FM reported that on Sunday the governor interrupted Cheserek as she addressed residents and told her to end her speech. He accused her of childish behaviour. He also said she had not contributed any money to the fundraiser. Cheserek refused to leave the podium. "You did not bring me here. I will continue speaking, and I will say it all," she told him. She criticised the county administration over healthcare and education services. She also accused it of using handouts to win public support instead of tackling residents' problems.
The crash adds to Kenya's long list of road accidents. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), cited by Kenyans.co.ke, says 3,995 people died in road accidents between January 1 and October 2026. That is an average of 14 people a day. Ahead of the festive season, NTSA recently launched a nationwide crackdown called Msimu Bila Ajali, Usalama Barabarani. Officers are checking for speeding, drunk driving, reckless driving and overloading.