Six dead, seven injured in Mombasa Road accident

Six people have died while seven others were injured after the vehicles they were travelling in were involved in a grisly road traffic accident along the busy Nairobi–Mombasa highway.

The accident, which involved a Passenger Service Vehicle (PSV) bus and a matatu, occurred on Friday night at the Katumani area near Konza Technopolis City, along the border of Machakos and Makueni counties.

It happened shortly after midnight.

Mukaa Sub-county Police Commander Hussein Abduba said the matatu, belonging to NAEKANA Sacco, was travelling from Nairobi when the driver attempted to overtake other vehicles on the highway.

During the manoeuvre, the matatu was involved in a head-on collision with a Tahmeed Coach bus that was travelling in the opposite direction, from Mombasa to Nairobi.

“The accident occurred when the driver of the matatu belonging to NAEKANA Sacco, which was headed towards Mombasa from Nairobi, attempted to overtake several vehicles and collided head-on with a Tahmeed bus that was moving in the opposite direction,” Abduba said in a phone interview.

He added that the matatu was overtaking a lorry when the bus suddenly appeared, leading to the collision.

“Six people died on the spot, while seven others sustained injuries and were rushed to Machakos Level 5 Hospital for treatment,” Abduba said.

The bodies of those who died were taken to the same hospital’s mortuary, where they are awaiting identification and post-mortem examinations.

The police commander urged motorists to exercise caution, particularly on the busy Nairobi–Mombasa highway and other major roads across the country.

“Drivers need to be careful on the road. We must protect the public because life is precious,” Abduba said.

Road accidents have recently increased on Kenyan roads and highways, especially during the December 2025 festive season, despite the government rolling out mobile traffic courts to enforce traffic laws.

The initiative, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, aims to promote efficiency, transparency, and respect for suspects’ rights while enhancing accountability.

The courts are intended to help curb road accidents and improve compliance with traffic regulations.