Why some Kenyan cultures forbid families from travelling in same car

A matatu crash along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway on September 28, 2025, claimed the lives of 13 family members, reigniting a deeply emotional debate among Kenyans about road safety and cultural practices. 

The tragedy, in which a family from Murang’a was struck head-on by a semi-trailer truck during an overtaking manoeuvre, has brought to light an age-old cultural rule: families should avoid travelling together in one vehicle.

The victims included parents, siblings, cousins, uncles, aunts, and children. Two children survived, albeit with serious injuries. 

The Cultural Precaution

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Kenyans on social media reflected on the cultural practice of spreading the risk, a concept that many view as “ancestral wisdom.” 

This means splitting family members across different vehicles for travel. This is particularly evident when families travel for events such as weddings, funerals, or long-distance travel. 

By spreading family members across multiple vehicles, the chances of the entire family being wiped out in a single accident are minimised.  

On X, user Muhammad Onyango (@Moha001_Onyango) urged families to “spread the risk,” aligning with what others have called a tradition rooted in harsh reality and superstition.

In response to this risk, many families, especially during events like weddings, funerals, or holidays, opt to hire one vehicle for convenience and cost-saving. 

However, the practice of travelling together in one vehicle comes with its dangers.

A Rule Rooted in Cultural and Familial Continuity

Kenya, like many African countries, places significant importance on the concept of bloodlines. The loss of multiple family members in a single incident carries personal and communal significance. 

Beyond the immediate grief, such tragedies can deeply impact a community’s sense of identity, continuity, and heritage. 

Losing an entire bloodline in one go is a harsh reminder of the fragility of life, particularly in cultures that prioritise family as the cornerstone of social structure.

For many, the practice of spreading family members across different vehicles is seen as a protective measure. 

As X user Barry Ipapoh (@BarryIpapo) describes, it is a “family rule” in parts of Western Kenya, where relatives travel separately to ensure a designated survivor.

“Kuka and kukhu always insisted on the family taking different vehicles. Sort of spread the odds, God forbid, just in case. Can’t be too careful kwa hizi barabara zetu,” wrote user Challingo (@ChallingoPeter), reflecting on the caution taught by elders.

This practice serves as a risk-reduction strategy against the high likelihood of road accidents in Kenya, where fatalities are a regular part of the country's travel reality.

Linking Cultural Practices with Modern Security Strategies

The principle of spreading risk is not unique to families on Kenyan roads. 

A similar strategy is employed in VIP security. In modern security practices, particularly for high-profile individuals, risks are spread across multiple security teams, routes, and decoy vehicles to ensure that if one element is compromised, the primary target remains safe.

This concept mirrors how African families have traditionally minimised the risk of losing all members in a single accident, either through multiple vehicles or spreading out family members during travel. 

The spread-the-risk approach works both in the context of family safety on the road and the protection of high-profile individuals in the modern security landscape.

Kenya's Deadly Roads

Kenya’s road conditions provide a harsh backdrop to these cultural practices. 

On September 28, 2025, the Kikopey crash, which involved 13 family members, serves as a grim reminder of the dangers on Kenya’s roads. 

Other recent accidents paint a similar picture of high-risk travel.

• Naivasha-Longonot Tragedy (March 30, 2025): A family of seven, including four children, perished in a head-on collision. The highway’s notorious condition and reckless driving were cited as contributing factors.

• Mbaruk Accident (August 13, 2024): A crash on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway killed five family members.

• Nairobi-Mombasa Pile-Up (April 1, 2024): Seven family members died in a five-vehicle pile-up during Easter return travel.

• Kisumu-Kakamega Overturn (August 9, 2025): A bus carrying mourners overturned, killing all 25 passengers, an entire family returning from a funeral.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) reports over 4,000 fatalities annually, with some of Kenya's major highways, like the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, being particularly hazardous.

As Kenya grapples with its road safety crisis, the rule of travelling separately endures as both tradition and a survival tactic. 

It is a legacy that serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the lengths people will go to in order to protect their loved ones.