By Mumo Judah
June 8, 2026
At least eight people have been confirmed dead and 28 others injured following a horrific multi-vehicle collision near the ACK Salama area along the busy Mombasa-Nairobi Highway in Makueni County.
The tragic accident occurred on Sunday night, June 7, 2026, between 9:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., causing a major traffic snarl-up and prompting emergency rescue operations that stretched into the night as first responders battled to save lives and clear the wreckage.
According to preliminary police reports and eyewitness accounts, the accident was triggered after a cargo truck heading towards Mombasa allegedly lost control and veered into the opposite lane. The truck is said to have collided head-on with a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operating under the Rembo Shuttle fleet, which was fully occupied and traveling towards Nairobi.
The force of the collision triggered a devastating chain-reaction crash involving two private vehicles and a motorcycle, leaving mangled wreckage scattered across the highway and bringing traffic to a standstill.
Among those killed on the spot was the driver of the Rembo Shuttle minibus, identified as Geoffrey Chirchir. Seven passengers, comprising four adult men and three adult women, also lost their lives instantly in the crash. The death toll could rise as several survivors remain in critical condition.
Emergency response teams from the Kenya Red Cross, police officers, and members of the public rushed to the scene and mounted rescue operations. The teams worked through the night to evacuate victims trapped inside the twisted remains of the vehicles.
A total of 28 injured persons were rushed to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital for urgent medical attention. Some sustained serious head injuries and fractures, while others were treated for multiple injuries. The truck driver was among those admitted after suffering fractures and head injuries.
The bodies of the deceased were moved to the Sultan Hamud mortuary pending identification by relatives and postmortem examinations.
Traffic police and scene-of-crime personnel processed the area as investigations commenced to establish the exact cause of the accident. Investigators are expected to determine whether speeding, mechanical failure, dangerous overtaking, or driver error contributed to the deadly collision.
The accident caused heavy traffic congestion along the highway, with motorists experiencing long delays as rescue teams and police officers worked to remove the wreckage and restore the normal flow of vehicles.
The Salama section of the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway has in recent years been identified as one of the country’s notorious accident blackspots due to the high volume of heavy commercial vehicles and long-distance passenger transport buses using the route.
Road safety stakeholders have repeatedly called for increased enforcement of traffic regulations, installation of additional warning signs, and greater caution among motorists to reduce the growing number of fatalities on Kenyan roads.
Authorities have appealed to motorists using the highway to exercise extreme caution, especially during night travel, as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash continue.
