Three killed, eleven injured in Nairobi–Mombasa Highway crash

The scene of the accident along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway in Mukaa, Makueni county, on February 21, 2026/GEORGE OWITI

Three people died on the spot, while eleven others were injured in a road accident along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway.

Mukaa Deputy County Commissioner Buxton Mayabi said the crash occurred at Mlima Kiu near the Rubis petrol station and involved a trailer.

He said the trailer driver fled the scene immediately after the accident.

“I confirm that there was an accident that occurred along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway at the Mlima Kiu area near the Rubis petrol station involving a trailer whose driver caused the accident,” Mayabi said.

Mayabi said the trailer hit several vehicles, including a 14-seater passenger Nissan matatu, leading to the three fatalities. The deceased were passengers in the matatu.

Witnesses said the trailer was attempting to overtake other vehicles when it was involved in a head-on collision with a lorry.

The trailer then hit the matatu, which was travelling in the opposite direction towards Nairobi, causing it to overturn.

The injured were rushed to Sultan Hamud Hospital for treatment. The bodies were moved to the same facility’s mortuary, awaiting identification and post-mortem examinations.

Mayabi urged motorists to exercise caution while using the highway. He noted that many roads in the region become slippery during the rainy season.

Meanwhile, seven people were killed in separate road accidents across the country on Friday night.

Police said the fatalities included three pedestrians, two riders, a driver, and a pedal cyclist.

The accidents left 21 others with serious injuries, including three passengers, seven riders, five pillion passengers, five pedestrians, and a driver.

The accident comes amid growing concern over rising road fatalities in the country. Kenya lost 398 people in road traffic accidents between January 1 and January 30 this year, according to the National Police Service (NPS).

Traffic Department data shows an 11 per cent increase compared to the 358 deaths recorded during the same period last year.

“We are deeply concerned about the rise in road fatalities this January, and we are intensifying enforcement to protect all road users,” said NPS Traffic Department liaison officer Boniface Otieno during an interview on NTV’s Fixing the Nation.

The NPS reported 854 accidents in January 2026, slightly up from 850 crashes recorded in January 2025. A total of 2,032 victims were recorded during the period.

Authorities say the figures underscore the need for greater caution among motorists and pedestrians, as well as stricter enforcement of traffic regulations.