At least 22 people have been confirmed dead and several others injured following a head-on collision involving a bus and a lorry at Kanga area, past Mtito Andei, along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
According to Makueni County Commissioner Abdulahi Khalif, the accident has left multiple people injured.
Confirming the incident, the county police boss added that the incident then prompted an emergency response at the scene.
The injured victims have been rushed to Mtito Andei Sub-County Hospital, where they are receiving medical attention.
The circumstances leading to the fatal collision remain unclear, with further details on the identities of the victims and the number of people injured yet to be established.
The accident occurred along one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors, which serves motorists travelling between Nairobi and the Coast.
The highway experiences significant traffic from passenger buses, private vehicles and heavy commercial trucks transporting goods to and from the Port of Mombasa.
The latest tragedy is likely to renew concerns over road safety along the busy highway, where collisions involving passenger vehicles and heavy trucks can result in devastating loss of life.
Authorities are expected to provide further information as details of the crash emerge, including the cause of the collision and the condition of those receiving treatment at Mtito Andei Sub-County Hospital.
The latest crash also revives concerns over the safety of the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, which has witnessed repeated fatal accidents over the years.
The authorities have in the recent past called for prompt investigations but little seems to be done to avert further loss of lives.
The Salama-Mlima Kiu stretch, in particular, has earned a reputation as a dangerous black spot. On October 3, 2026, at least 17 people died in a multi-vehicle collision at Salama, while another crash in April 2024 claimed 10 lives.
Police have previously identified the Salama-Sultan Hamud and Mtito Andei-Tsavo River sections among accident-prone stretches, with dangerous overtaking, speeding and head-on collisions posing persistent risks to motorists.
