The grisly crash that claimed the lives of 17 Catholic pilgrims in Makueni has once again brought into focus the dangers posed by reckless driving and the condition of the Mombasa–Nairobi highway.
According to Makueni County Commissioner Abdulahi Khalif, preliminary accounts indicate that the accident occurred after a trailer attempted to overtake other vehicles before losing control and crashing into several vehicles.
The trailer reportedly collided with five other vehicles, including two lorries, a private car and a matatu carrying Catholic faithful travelling to Subukia for prayers.
The crash occurred at around 1am at the Kiu area near Salama, leaving 17 people dead at the scene and seven others injured.
The circumstances surrounding the trailer's manoeuvre are likely to form a key part of investigations as authorities seek to establish whether speeding, dangerous overtaking, driver fatigue or other traffic violations contributed to the crash.
Witness Edward Kasati, who arrived at the scene at night, described the aftermath as a devastating scene, highlighting the difficulty of responding to a major crash occurring in the early hours.
Khalif, who led government officials to the scene, warned motorists against violating traffic rules, saying reckless behaviour on the road can have devastating consequences.
But the crash has also revived questions about whether road infrastructure is contributing to the repeated accidents along the stretch.
Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili called for the expansion of the highway around Kiu, arguing that improving the road could help address the recurring accidents in the area.
The concerns come years after President William Ruto, during a visit to Makueni in 2023, pledged that funds had been secured for the construction of two roads between Kyumbi and Emali.
The pledge has yet to translate into the promised improvements, while fatal crashes continue to raise questions about road safety along the busy corridor.
The Makueni crash therefore points to two interconnected road-safety challenges: driver behaviour and infrastructure.
While investigators will have to establish the precise sequence of events that led to the collision, the allegation that a trailer was attempting to overtake before losing control puts driver conduct at the centre of the inquiry.
At the same time, calls for expansion of the highway point to the need for longer-term measures to make the stretch safer for motorists and passengers.
