17 killed in multiple-vehicle crash on Nairobi-Mombasa highway

Seventeen people were killed in a multiple-vehicle crash at Mlima Kiu in Salama, Kilome, along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway early Saturday morning.

The accident occurred at about 12.10am on October 3, 2026, when a Howo Sinotruk was travelling from Nairobi towards Mombasa.

According to police at Salama Police Station, the truck driver allegedly failed to keep to his proper lane while overtaking a fleet of vehicles and rammed into the rear right side of a Hino.

The impact caused the Sinotruk driver to lose control before it collided sideways with an oncoming Peugeot and a Toyota Noah.

Police said the truck then swerved into the climbing lane, where it collided head-on with a Toyota Hiace PSV matatu.

The out-of-control truck was subsequently stopped after colliding with a Nissan UD, which was travelling from Mombasa towards Nairobi.

Police said the driver of the matatu and 12 passengers died at the scene. The driver of the Sinotruk, Shijire, and three passengers travelling in the truck also died on the spot.

Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Stephen Mwangangi said the crash involved a chain of accidents and confirmed that 17 people had died.

"It was a chain of accidents. It involved a 14-seater matatu that was headed towards Nairobi and a lorry. A lorry rammed into another lorry, pulled it and caused a chain of accidents. In the process, a head-on collision between the 14-seater matatu and the lorry occurred," Mwangangi said.

The accident was reported at Salama Police Station as a fatal road traffic accident.

Several other people sustained injuries in the multiple-vehicle collision, causing a heavy traffic snarl along the busy highway

Police officers and other emergency responders rushed to the scene to assist the injured and process the scene.

Mwangangi said seven injured people were admitted to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital, with six of them suffering soft tissue injuries and later being treated and discharged.

One of the lorry drivers was among those rushed to hospital after sustaining severe head and abdominal injuries.

"We stabilised and referred him to Makueni County Referral Hospital. As we speak, we have 14 bodies in our mortuary. It is a sad day for us," Mwangangi said.

Mwangangi added that three other bodies were taken to another mortuary within the area.

Police officers documented the scene before the damaged vehicles were towed to Salama Police Station yard, where they will be detained pending inspection as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.

Eastern Regional Police Commander Stephen Chebet said they were investigating the tragedy.

We urge motorists to be cautious on the roads. These are too many people to lose,” he said.