NAIROBI, Kenya — At least 17 people have been killed and seven others injured in a multiple-vehicle crash at Salama in Makueni County along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
The crash occurred at about 1am on Saturday, October 3, in the Salama area of Kilome, with the victims reportedly dying at the scene. The seven survivors were taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital for treatment.
Makueni County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif confirmed the fatalities as police and emergency responders assessed the scene.
Initial reports indicated that a lorry may have lost control after a suspected brake failure before colliding with several vehicles, including a 14-seater matatu. However, authorities had not immediately established the definitive cause or sequence of the crash.
Later reports indicated that all 17 people who died were passengers travelling in the 14-seater matatu.
The vehicle was carrying Catholic pilgrims from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church in Mikindani, Mombasa County, who were travelling to the Subukia National Shrine in Nakuru County for a national prayer event.
The matatu was extensively damaged in the collision, with images from the scene showing a shattered windscreen, broken windows and severe damage to the vehicle.
The identities of the victims were not immediately released as authorities continued with identification and other procedures.
Seven other people survived the crash and were taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital for medical attention.
The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear in the initial reports.
Emergency responders and police remained at the scene as investigations into the circumstances of the collision continued.
The crash caused significant disruption along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, with wreckage blocking sections of the busy transport corridor and motorists experiencing delays.
The accident occurred only a day after another serious collision at Kapiti Plains in neighbouring Machakos County, where two trailers collided and blocked both lanes of the highway.
That crash caused a traffic jam that lasted for several hours, with motorists reportedly spending much of the night stuck on the highway.
The two incidents have renewed attention on road safety along one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors, which carries large numbers of passenger vehicles and heavy commercial trucks between Nairobi and the Coast.
Police and emergency agencies are expected to establish the condition of the vehicles, the movements of the drivers and the circumstances immediately before the collision.
Also Read: Seven killed, 27 injured in grisly Salama accident along Nairobi–Mombasa Highway
While preliminary accounts have pointed to possible mechanical failure involving the lorry, the cause of the crash remains subject to investigation.
Authorities have yet to release a full account of how the vehicles collided or determine whether mechanical failure, driver behaviour or other factors contributed to the tragedy.
The Salama crash adds to a series of serious road accidents reported along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in recent months, including previous fatal collisions around Salama and Kapiti Plains.
For the families of the 17 victims, the journey to a place of prayer ended in one of the deadliest road crashes reported in the area this year.
Police investigations and identification procedures are continuing.
