At least 22 people were killed when a bus and a truck collided head-on on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in one of the deadliest road crashes this year. The tragedy has prompted motorists and road safety agencies to renew calls for the highway to be expanded into a dual carriageway and for road accidents to be declared a national disaster.
The crash happened at about 7am at Kanga, just past Mtito Andei in Kibwezi East Sub-County, Makueni County. The bus, which was travelling from Mombasa towards Nairobi, was reportedly carrying passengers returning from a burial. Several others were injured and taken to Mtito Andei Sub-County Hospital. Makueni County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif warned that the death toll could rise.
Some of the victims died at the scene, while others died while receiving treatment. “It is a serious accident. We are attending to those who have survived,” said Dr Kevin Wamalwa, Medical Superintendent at Mtito Andei Sub-County Hospital. “We are compiling a list of casualties. Some died while undergoing treatment.”
Preliminary reports attributed the crash to dangerous overtaking. The collision brought traffic on the busy highway to a standstill for hours.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir described the crash as a stark reminder of the country’s road safety challenge. “Today’s loss of 22 lives brings the pain and urgency of our road safety crisis into even sharper focus,” he said. “We cannot continue treating road safety as business as usual.”
He announced tighter oversight of commercial drivers, including structured training and compliance measures, and stepped-up enforcement by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the police against reckless overtaking and speeding.
“We will strengthen the black spot management programme to identify and address high-risk road sections through targeted engineering interventions and other infrastructure improvements,” he said.
The CS added that the ministry would work with the Judiciary, Parliament and the Senate to resolve issues delaying the implementation of new commercial vehicle, vehicle inspection and school transport regulations.
“These regulatory frameworks are critical to strengthening vehicle roadworthiness, driver accountability, fatigue management and the safe operation of commercial and public service vehicles,” he said.
The NTSA, which has designated the stretch an accident black spot, called on the Government to declare road crashes a national disaster.
“Road safety is not just a transport issue; it is a national development and security priority,” the authority said.
Kenya records about 20,000 road crashes and more than 5,000 deaths every year.
The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) called for the 461-kilometre highway to be dualled urgently and for heavy trucks to be separated from long-distance passenger buses.
“MAK demands urgent separation of heavy commercial trailers from long-distance passenger buses. We must also prioritise the SGR for freight instead of allowing dangerous truck traffic to overwhelm our highways, particularly where rail infrastructure already runs parallel to the road,” the association said.
“How many more Kenyans must die before those entrusted with protecting human life wake up?” it asked.
It noted that the road was first built in 1901. “A century and a quarter later, we are still waiting for adequate dual carriageways,” MAK said.
The Government has said that dualling the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway remains a high priority. In March 2026, CS Chirchir confirmed the project was among the ministry’s top priorities, and the National Treasury has begun evaluating bids for a consultant to study the traffic, engineering, environmental, social and cost aspects of expanding the road.
The Government earlier dropped the proposed Sh468 billion Usahihi Expressway, citing high costs and fiscal risks, in favour of upgrading the existing A8 highway.
Sunday’s crash came just weeks after 17 people travelling to a church service were killed in another accident on the same highway.
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