KERICHO/NAIROBI — The death toll from a road accident in western Kenya has risen to 51, police said on Saturday, as rescue efforts continued.

The driver of a truck carrying a shipping container lost control of the vehicle, which then plowed into other cars and rammed into people along the Nakuru-Kericho highway in Kericho County on Friday evening, witnesses said.

"We have 51 bodies now. Many others were injured and are in hospitals," Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Tom Odero said. At least 32 people were injured in the accident.

Witnesses said the driver was trying to avoid hitting a minibus parked on the road before the truck veered out of control. Several minibuses were severely damaged. Rescue efforts were slowed by heavy rains.

Kipchumba Murkomen, cabinet secretary for roads, transport and public works who visited the site of the accident on Saturday, asked local authorities to erect speed bumps at the Londiani Junction in Kericho County as part of measures to curb road accidents.

Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki on Saturday directed police officers across the country to intensify enforcement of traffic rules.

Official statistics published on Thursday showed that 2,124 people have died in accidents since January. An estimated 3,000 Kenyans die in road accidents across the country annually despite concerted efforts by the state and the private sector to promote safety on highways, according to the National Transport and Safety Authority.

The Kenyan station Citizen TV reported that the vehicle's driver had died, but this could not be immediately confirmed.

The trailer rammed into private cars, minibuses, motorcycle taxis and market stalls on the side of a busy highway between the lakeside town of Nakuru and Kericho, an area known for its lush tea plantations.

Footage showed the mangled wreckage of multiple vehicles as rescuers worked in the dark in pouring rain and ambulance sirens wailed.

On Saturday, large crowds of onlookers were at the scene, where the overturned container was stuck in a ditch, and debris was strewed across a wide area, including car seats, piles of fruit, a damaged axle and a lone black boot.

"The accident happened in a flash, many of them had no time to escape," said one witness, Joel Rotich.

"There was a lot of confusion because people were screaming all over and everyone was running after the accident."

Kenyan leaders, including President William Ruto, expressed their condolences, along with African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat.

"My prayers and thoughts go to the families affected by the Londiani road tragedy, with wishes for a full recovery to the injured," Faki tweeted.

The Kenya Red Cross, which has been involved in rescue efforts, began a blood donation drive for the injured survivors.

Agencies - Xinhua