A tragic accident early Tuesday morning, May 13, claimed two lives and left 12 others seriously injured following a head-on collision between a matatu and a lorry at Malili on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
The matatu, belonging to Naekana Sacco, was en route from Taveta to Nairobi when the crash occurred. Eyewitnesses reported that the matatu driver attempted to veer off the road to avoid an oncoming lorry, but the maneuver failed. The impact was devastating, ripping through the front of the matatu and trapping several passengers inside.
The scene quickly turned chaotic. Bystanders reported hearing a loud bang, followed by screams for help. Some passengers were found motionless, while others were pinned in their seats and crying out in pain. First responders and local residents rushed to rescue those trapped, working alongside emergency teams to provide first aid and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
Emergency services confirmed that two people died on the spot. The injured were rushed to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital and Makindu Level 4 Hospital for treatment. Several remain in critical condition, raising concerns about the possible rise in the death toll.
The crash occurred along a stretch of the highway that has long been considered dangerous. This particular section, between Malili and Salama, has seen numerous fatal accidents over the years. In one such incident in 2018, eight lives were lost in a similar collision involving a matatu and a lorry.
The Nairobi-Mombasa Highway is one of Kenya’s busiest roadways, connecting major towns and facilitating the movement of goods and passengers between the coast and the capital. Unfortunately, it has also gained a reputation for being a hotspot for deadly accidents due to its heavy traffic, narrow stretches, and frequent reckless driving.
Authorities are calling for urgent interventions to address the high rate of accidents on this route. Law enforcement officers and road safety advocates are urging drivers, especially those operating public service vehicles, to adhere strictly to traffic rules. They are particularly warning against night travel, which is associated with a higher risk of accidents due to poor visibility, fatigue, and increased chances of reckless behavior.
This accident comes just days after another tragic incident in Nyeri County, where a matatu ferrying weekend revellers overturned at Jua Kali in Tetu. That crash resulted in one death and left 22 others injured, four critically. Such back-to-back tragedies underscore the ongoing crisis on Kenyan roads.
In 2024 alone, over 4,300 people have died in road accidents, a figure nearing the 4,690 fatalities recorded in 2023. According to road safety experts, the main contributors to this persistent problem include reckless driving, over-speeding, inadequate road infrastructure, and pedestrian negligence.
Road safety agencies are calling for collective responsibility to reverse this deadly trend. From drivers to pedestrians, every road user is being urged to prioritize safety. Experts warn that unless serious efforts are made to change behaviors and improve infrastructure, the country will continue to lose thousands of lives annually to preventable accidents.
As investigations into the Malili crash continue, the nation is once again left mourning the loss of lives and grappling with the urgent need for more effective road safety measures.
