The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged a driver with causing the deaths of four people through dangerous driving following a fatal road accident along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in Kwale County.
Rashid Ahmed Ismail appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Simon Kimani, where he denied four counts of causing death by dangerous driving contrary to Section 46 of the Traffic Act, Cap. 403 of the Laws of Kenya.
The prosecution, led by Principal Prosecution Counsel Jethron Okumu, told the court that the offences were committed on June 1, 2026, at around 6pm in the Mwembeni area along the busy highway in Samburu Sub-County, Kwale County.
The court heard that Ismail was driving a Toyota Voxy, registration number KDD 319B, when he allegedly drove on the public road in a manner considered dangerous to other road users, taking into account the condition and use of the road as well as the volume of traffic at the time.
According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly failed to keep to his proper lane while overtaking other vehicles, resulting in a head-on collision with an oncoming Nissan X-Trail, registration number KCM 744S.
The impact of the collision allegedly claimed the lives of four occupants, with each death forming a separate count in the charge sheet.
In the first two counts, Ismail is accused of causing the deaths of Richard Nyamai Mwaniki and Richard Nyamai Mutia through dangerous driving.
He faces two additional counts over the deaths of Zahara Chebet Ahmed and Khalid Kirruto Ahmed, who also died following the collision.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all four charges as the prosecution outlined the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
The prosecution did not oppose his release on bond but urged the court to impose stringent conditions to ensure he attends all subsequent court proceedings.
Senior Principal Magistrate Kimani subsequently released Ismail on a bond of KSh150,000.
The court directed that the matter be mentioned on December 17, 2026, for pre-trial directions as the parties prepare for the hearing.
The prosecution indicated that it intends to call more than 10 witnesses and rely on documentary evidence to support its case against the accused.
The evidence is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the alleged overtaking manoeuvre, the position of the vehicles on the road and the events leading to the deaths of the four victims.
If convicted, Ismail faces the penalties provided for under Section 46 of the Traffic Act, which criminalises causing death through dangerous driving.
The case will now proceed to the pre-trial stage, with the accused remaining out of custody on bond as he awaits further court proceedings.
