KERICHO, Kenya - Kenyan police said the number of people killed in a road accident earlier Wednesday involving a commuter bus in Kericho has risen to 56.

Kericho county police commander James Mugera said the toll surged after six people died while undergoing treatment at Muhoroni and Kericho hospitals.

Earlier, authorities said 42 people were killed on the spot and eight others died later in hospitals after the crash at 5 am on the Kisumu-Muhoroni highway.

Kericho County police commander James Mugera said nine of the victims were children, 15 women and 32 men.

He also confirmed that there are 15 survivors.

The National Transport and Safety Authority said the bus was not licensed to operate at night.

The bus was reportedly descending a slope when it hit a guard rail before plunging down a valley and rolling several times. One of the survivors said the bus was overloaded and the crew disregarded traffic rules.

The authorities banned night travel for public transport buses in December 2017 in a bid to stop road carnage, but the directive was later reversed by a court order.