A bus and a truck collided on Kenya’s main highway on Sunday morning, killing at least 22 people, police said, on a stretch of road where another crash killed 17 people three weeks ago.
Several other people were injured and were being treated. Makueni County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif said the death toll could rise.
What We Know So Far
The crash happened near Mtito Andei on the highway linking the capital, Nairobi, with the coastal city of Mombasa. The passengers were reportedly returning from a funeral, and the bus was reportedly a church bus.
Preliminary reports said the bus and a trailer were traveling in opposite directions when they collided, Kenyans.co.ke said. Images seen by the outlet showed people believed to have been on the bus lying motionless on the road. The crash caused a standstill on the busy highway as travelers and passersby gathered.
Rescuers were evacuating injured passengers to nearby health facilities. The circumstances of the crash remain unclear.
What Authorities Are Saying
Khalif confirmed the deaths and said several passengers were injured, Kenyans.co.ke said. It added that authorities were expected to issue a statement.
Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority said the stretch of highway where the crash happened is a designated “accident black spot” and that recommendations had been made to address safety concerns there.
Differing Accounts
The death toll differs by source. The AP, citing police, put it at at least 22. Kenyans.co.ke, citing Khalif, said at least 20 passengers died, and said the number of casualties had not been officially confirmed when it published. The AP called the second vehicle a truck, while Kenyans.co.ke called it a trailer.
Why This Matters
The crash came three weeks after 17 people died in another accident on the same highway, the AP said. On Friday night, two members of one family died near Mtito Andei when their car, driven from Mombasa, rammed into a trailer, Kenyans.co.ke said. A third person was in critical condition. The outlet said accidents have also increased on the Nairobi to Nakuru and Nakuru to Eldoret highways, among other roads.
Speeding and poor road conditions have been cited as contributing factors in Kenyan road accidents, the AP noted. Kenyans.co.ke said drivers have been accused of reckless driving to reach destinations faster and make more trips during busy periods, which leads to fatigue.
The National Police Service and the transport authority have launched a nationwide campaign for road users ahead of the December holiday season. More than 415 people died in road crashes over the 2025 festive season, a 23% increase from 2024, according to Kenyans.co.ke.
What Happens Next
Authorities are expected to release a statement on the crash. The cause and the final number of dead and injured have not been confirmed.
Sources: the Associated Press and Kenyans.co.ke
