Tragedy struck near the busy Machakos Junction on Sunday, November 23, 2025, as a matatu collided head-on with a concrete-mixer truck, leaving several passengers dead. The accident occurred when the lorry reportedly lost control and veered into the oncoming lane, hitting the PSV that was traveling from Nairobi to Machakos.
Images from the scene show a mangled matatu, its front completely destroyed, with luggage and farm produce scattered across the road. The impact caused the matatu to roll onto its side, further complicating rescue efforts. The lorry also sustained significant front-end damage, and it remains unclear if the driver survived the crash.
Local residents rushed to the scene, assisting in lifting the overturned matatu and aiding in rescue operations, which are still ongoing. Preliminary reports indicate the lorry may have lost control due to mechanical failure or driver error, though investigations are still underway.
This incident comes less than 72 hours after another fatal accident in Ukambani, where six people, including four KCSE candidates, died when a lorry rammed a stationary 14-seater PSV near Mbooni, Makueni County. The PSV had been picking up passengers when the truck veered off a recently tarmacked road at Ngoluni Junction.
The two recent crashes add to an alarming trend in road fatalities in Kenya. According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), 376 drivers and 681 passengers have already died on Kenyan roads in 2025. Nairobi County leads in fatalities with 447 deaths, followed by Kiambu (387) and Nakuru (318). Machakos (173), Murang’a (148), and Kisumu (137) are also among the highest.
In anticipation of the festive season, NTSA has announced an enhanced road safety plan. This strategy will involve close collaboration with the National Police Service to implement multi-agency prevention measures aimed at reducing the rising number of road crashes.
Authorities continue to appeal to motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic rules, and prioritize safety to prevent further tragedies.
