Flax Forest Black Spot Strikes Again, Two Die

Two people lost their lives on Wednesday night, June 18, 2025, following a tragic road accident at Flax Forest along the Eldoret-Eldama Ravine Road in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.

The fatal crash involved a private car and a motorcycle. According to eyewitnesses, the private car swerved in an attempt to avoid an oncoming vehicle, causing it to veer off the slippery, rain-soaked road and crash into a tree. Both occupants of the car died on the spot.

The motorcycle rider survived but sustained serious injuries, including a broken leg, and was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

Photos from the scene showed the car’s front section completely mangled, with the road appearing wet and slick from the heavy rains experienced that evening. The accident is the latest to occur at the Flax Forest section, a location now notorious for fatal crashes.

Flax Forest is the same black spot where world marathon champion Kelvin Kiptum tragically died in February 2024. Kiptum and his coach, Garvais Hakizimana, perished when their vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a tree before landing in a ditch. A third passenger, a woman, survived the incident.

Confirming Wednesday night’s accident, Keiyo South Sub-County Police Commander Abdullahi Dahir stated that the crash occurred at around 11 p.m. “It appears the driver lost control due to the slippery conditions and poor visibility,” Dahir said.

He further warned motorists to exercise caution, noting that the Flax area is often foggy and plagued by stray livestock at night, contributing to the dangerous driving conditions. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident as calls grow for enhanced road safety measures at the deadly stretch.