At least 39 people have died in two devastating road crashes along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway in October, renewing concerns over road safety on one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors.
The latest tragedy occurred on Sunday, October 25, when a bus collided with a lorry in the Kanga area, past Mtito Andei in Makueni County, killing at least 22 people and injuring several others.
The crash came just three weeks after another multi-vehicle collision at Salama, near Mlima Kiu, claimed 17 lives on October 3.
Latest Crash Leaves at Least 22 Dead
The Sunday morning accident involved a bus carrying passengers returning from a funeral and a lorry.
Makueni County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif confirmed the initial fatalities, while injured passengers were rushed to Mtito Andei Sub-County Hospital for treatment.
The circumstances surrounding the collision remained under investigation. The National Transport and Safety Authority later said preliminary information suggested improper overtaking may have contributed to the crash, but a final determination was still pending.
October 3 Crash Killed 17 Pilgrims and Other Road Users
On October 3, a chain of collisions at Salama, in the Mlima Kiu area of Makueni County, killed 17 people.
The crash involved a 14-seater matatu, lorries and other vehicles. Police said a lorry allegedly lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre, triggering a series of collisions that ended in a fatal crash involving the passenger vehicle.
The victims included members of St Matthias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa, who were travelling to Subukia for the National Prayer Day.
Renewed Questions Over Highway Safety
The back-to-back tragedies have renewed concerns about dangerous overtaking, vehicle control and the safety of sections of the highway where traffic travelling in opposite directions shares a single carriageway.
A previous investigation by Citizen TV highlighted how the road changes from a dual carriageway to a single carriageway after Machakos Junction, leaving motorists with less room to react when something goes wrong. The Mlima Kiu stretch has also been identified as an accident black spot.
The recurring fatalities have intensified calls for motorists to observe lane discipline, avoid dangerous overtaking and drive at safe speeds, while authorities face pressure to address known high-risk sections of the road.
Casualty-count note: The two October crashes account for at least 39 deaths. A third crash that would bring the reported total to 41 has not been independently verified for this report.
