Two people lost their lives early Tuesday morning in a tragic road accident along the busy Nairobi–Mombasa highway near Malili in Makueni County. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. when a 16-seater matatu rammed into the rear of a trailer, killing two occupants on the spot and leaving several others injured.
Confirming the incident, Mukaa Deputy County Commissioner Buxton Mayabi stated that the matatu was traveling in the direction of Mombasa when the collision happened. Preliminary reports indicate that the matatu may have been following too closely, resulting in the high-impact crash.
“This is to confirm the accident that occurred at around 5.30 am today near Malili along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway,” said Mayabi. “Two people died on the spot while injured victims were rushed to various hospitals in Kilungu, Sultan Hamud, and other health facilities in Mukaa sub-county.”
The injured passengers were attended to at nearby hospitals while the bodies of the deceased were moved to a local mortuary, pending identification and postmortem examinations.
Traffic police from Mukaa Police Station responded swiftly, documenting the scene and ensuring the road was cleared to allow for smooth traffic flow.
Authorities have since launched investigations into the exact cause of the accident, although slippery roads due to ongoing rains and potential driver negligence are considered possible contributing factors.
DCC Mayabi used the opportunity to caution motorists about the increased risks during the rainy season. “My call to the drivers is that they should be careful, especially during this rainy season, since roads are slippery. They should also ensure proper driving distance since it’s easy to lose brakes and cause accidents while driving very close to other motor vehicles,” he said.
This latest tragedy comes just two days after another accident occurred at Kyumbi in Machakos County, a few kilometers from Malili, where five people narrowly escaped death. They sustained minor injuries and were treated and discharged from Machakos Level 5 Hospital.
With two serious accidents in the span of days along the same stretch of road, authorities are urging extra caution among drivers to prevent further loss of life.
