Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has announced plans to intensify road safety interventions following a fatal crash at Kanga, near Mtito Andei, that claimed 24 lives and left several others injured.
In a statement issued on Sunday, October 25, Chirchir said the government would strengthen traffic enforcement, improve road infrastructure at accident black spots and tighten training and oversight of commercial and public service vehicle drivers.
The accident occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway, about 10 kilometres east of Mtito Andei, involving a passenger bus belonging to Power of the Word Church International, Mombasa, and a commercial cement tipper truck.
Preliminary reports indicate that the two vehicles collided head-on, with improper overtaking suspected to have contributed to the crash.
Investigations by the National Police Service, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and other relevant agencies are ongoing to establish the exact cause.
The injured victims were taken to Mtito Andei Sub-County Hospital and Kambu Level 4 Hospital for treatment.
Chirchir expressed condolences to the bereaved families and the church community, while commending emergency responders, medical personnel and security officers involved in rescue and evacuation efforts.
The Cabinet Secretary said the latest tragedy had renewed concerns over the country's road safety record, noting that 17 people died in another road crash at Salama, Mtito Andei, on October 3.
He described the repeated loss of lives on Kenyan roads as unacceptable, calling for coordinated and sustained action to curb road accidents.
Under the proposed interventions, the Ministry will strengthen the black spot management programme by identifying high-risk road sections and implementing targeted engineering improvements to reduce crashes.
The government also plans to intensify enforcement against dangerous driving, reckless overtaking, speeding and other traffic violations, while promoting responsible road-user behaviour.
Another focus will be improved training and supervision of commercial and public service vehicle drivers to enhance competence, discipline and compliance with safety requirements.
Chirchir further announced plans to engage Parliament, the Judiciary and the Senate, where appropriate, to address implementation challenges affecting the Commercial Vehicle Regulations 2026, Vehicle Inspection Regulations 2026 and School Transport Regulations 2026.
The regulations are intended to strengthen vehicle roadworthiness, driver accountability, fatigue management and the safe operation of commercial and public service vehicles.
The Cabinet Secretary noted that both vehicles involved in Sunday's crash were commercial vehicles, highlighting the need for effective regulation and enforcement across the transport sector. However, he cautioned that the precise circumstances of the collision remained subject to investigation.
The Ministry will also coordinate with road agencies, law enforcement authorities, the health sector, county governments and other stakeholders to establish clear responsibilities, measurable targets and stronger accountability in road safety management.
The latest crash adds to growing concerns about road safety along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway, a major transport corridor used by passenger buses, private motorists and heavy commercial vehicles.
Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the collision as the government considers additional measures to prevent similar tragedies.
