MAKUENI, Kenya — At least 22 people have died and several others injured following a head-on collision involving a passenger bus and a lorry along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway in Makueni County.
The crash occurred at around 7am on Sunday, October 25, in the Kanga area, beyond Mtito Andei, bringing traffic to a standstill along one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors.
Makueni County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif confirmed the fatalities, with the initial death toll of 20 later rising to 22 after two injured passengers reportedly succumbed to their injuries.
The bus was reportedly carrying passengers returning from a burial ceremony when it collided with the lorry. The circumstances leading to the crash had not been conclusively established by the time of publication.
Several survivors sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital for treatment, while the bodies of those who died were taken to a mortuary.
Mtito Andei Sub-County Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Kevin Wamalwa described the incident as serious, saying medical teams were attending to the survivors.
“It is a serious accident. We are attending to those who have survived,” Wamalwa told reporters.
He said he learnt of the accident shortly before 8am after receiving a telephone call, adding that the hospital was compiling a list of casualties.
“We are compiling a list of casualties. Some died while undergoing treatment,” he said.
The collision attracted crowds of travellers and passersby, while the wreckage disrupted movement along the highway as emergency responders attended to the victims.
Another deadly crash raises highway safety concerns
The latest tragedy has renewed concerns about road safety along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, following another fatal collision on the same route earlier this month.
On October 3, 17 people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash near Salama, also raising questions about the risks faced by motorists and passengers using the major transport corridor.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has identified the stretch where Sunday’s crash occurred as an accident black spot, according to reports following the incident. The designation highlights the need for targeted measures to address persistent road safety risks.
Also Read: 17 killed in multiple-vehicle crash at Salama along Nairobi-Mombasa Highway
However, investigators are yet to establish the specific circumstances that caused Sunday’s collision.
Speeding, dangerous overtaking, driver fatigue, vehicle defects and road conditions are among the factors that can contribute to serious crashes, but none should be treated as the confirmed cause of this incident without evidence from investigators.
Crash comes ahead of festive season travel
The accident comes as the National Police Service (NPS) and NTSA intensify road safety awareness and enforcement efforts ahead of the December festive season, when travel typically increases as families journey to their rural homes and holiday destinations.
Authorities have repeatedly urged motorists to observe speed limits, avoid dangerous overtaking, ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and take adequate rest before undertaking long journeys.
Driver fatigue, speeding and reckless driving remain major road safety concerns, particularly on long-distance routes where passenger buses and heavy commercial vehicles share the same carriageway.
Poor vehicle maintenance, including worn tyres and defective braking systems, can also increase the risk of crashes. Road design, signage and other infrastructure conditions may present additional hazards at high-risk locations.
The NPS launched a national festive-season road safety awareness campaign in November 2025, warning that increased travel, night driving, speeding, drink-driving and driver fatigue contribute to serious crashes during the holiday period.
The latest collision underscores the challenge facing road safety agencies as they seek to prevent further loss of life on the country’s major highways.
Police investigations are expected to establish how the bus and lorry collided and whether any offences or safety violations contributed to the crash.
