Kenya Calls for National Emergency Over Road Crashes After 24 Die in Highway Collision

At least 24 people have been killed and 24 others injured after a bus collided with a truck on Kenya’s Nairobi to Mombasa highway. The crash reportedly occurred when the truck attempted to overtake the bus but encountered oncoming traffic and lost control. The passengers were returning from their church pastor’s funeral. The incident comes three weeks after another crash killed 17 people on the same highway. Transport safety officials are calling for road accidents to be declared a national emergency, while President William Ruto has ordered inspections of all public service vehicles to improve safety and prevent further tragedies.

At least 24 people have been killed and another 24 injured after a bus collided with a truck on Kenya’s main highway linking Nairobi and Mombasa, prompting renewed calls for urgent action to address the country’s road safety crisis.
The crash occurred on Sunday morning as passengers on the bus were returning to Mombasa after attending the funeral of their church pastor in western Kenya. Authorities suspect improper overtaking contributed to the collision.

IMPROPER OVERTAKING SUSPECTED IN DEADLY CRASH

According to a survivor, the truck attempted to overtake the bus but encountered oncoming traffic and tried to return to its lane. The manoeuvre reportedly led to a loss of control and the collision.
Reverend Spencier Mdave, who was travelling on the bus, said passengers seated at the back suffered more severe injuries, while some people sitting towards the front sustained less serious injuries.
The incident has left families mourning their loved ones and raised fresh concerns about the dangers faced by passengers travelling along one of Kenya’s busiest transport routes.

REPEATED CRASHES RAISE SAFETY CONCERNS

The latest collision occurred only three weeks after another crash on the same highway killed 17 people, most of them Catholic pilgrims.
The Nairobi to Mombasa highway is an important route connecting Kenya’s capital with its major coastal port. It carries passengers, commercial vehicles and goods, making road safety essential for families, businesses and the wider economy.
Transport safety officials say the repeated fatal crashes demonstrate the need for stronger preventive measures. They are calling for road accidents to be declared a national emergency or disaster to encourage a more urgent and coordinated response.
Officials estimate that Kenya records about 20,000 road crashes annually, resulting in more than 5,000 deaths.

PRESIDENT RUTO ORDERS INSPECTION OF PUBLIC VEHICLES

President William Ruto has expressed condolences to the families of those killed and ordered inspections of all public service vehicles to ensure they comply with safety requirements.
He also urged drivers to exercise caution and obey traffic rules to protect lives.
The inspections are intended to identify vehicles that may be unsafe and ensure that operators meet the required standards. However, preventing further tragedies will also require attention to driver behaviour, enforcement of traffic laws and the condition of roads.
Speeding, dangerous overtaking and poor road conditions have previously been identified as contributing factors in Kenyan road accidents.

KENYA FACES PRESSURE TO STRENGTHEN ROAD SAFETY

The latest tragedy has intensified demands for practical measures to reduce deaths on the country’s roads. These could include stricter enforcement against dangerous driving, regular vehicle inspections, improved road maintenance and public education on safe overtaking.
Declaring road crashes a national emergency could help draw greater attention and resources to the problem, but lasting improvements will depend on consistent implementation of safety measures.
For the families affected by Sunday’s collision, the immediate concern is mourning those who died and supporting the injured. For the wider public, the repeated accidents have renewed questions about what more must be done to make everyday journeys safer.