MAKUENI, Kenya — At least two people are feared dead following multiple crashes along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway near Salama, Makueni County.
Images from the scene on Monday, October 5, showed two trailers and a small car involved in separate collisions along the highway as motorists descended from Salama towards Sultan Hamud.
In one of the crashes, a trailer appeared to have rammed into another, leaving the front section of the tractor head extensively damaged.
Several people were seen lying on the ground near the wreckage as members of the public gathered to assist in the rescue operation.
About 200 metres away, another crash involved a white Toyota Fielder whose front section was extensively crushed.
Heavy Traffic Builds Up
The crashes caused heavy traffic along the busy highway, with motorists struggling to navigate the affected stretch.
The narrow section of the road also forced some drivers to use undesignated lanes to pass the wreckage, further complicating traffic movement.
Authorities had not issued an official statement on the cause of the crashes or confirmed the reported fatalities by the time of publication.
Motorists were urged to exercise caution while using the affected section of the highway.
Fresh Concern After Salama Pilgrims’ Crash
Monday’s crashes came just days after another deadly accident near Salama claimed the lives of 17 Catholic pilgrims travelling from Mombasa to Subukia.
The October 3 crash occurred at Mlima Kiu along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway and involved a Toyota Hiace carrying parishioners from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa County.
Police said the Mombasa-bound truck lost control after attempting to overtake another vehicle, triggering a chain collision that involved the pilgrims’ van.
The driver and 16 passengers died in the crash, while survivors and injured truck occupants were taken to hospital.
The latest incidents have renewed concerns over safety along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway and calls for expansion of the road.
Pressure Mounts For Highway Expansion
Pressure has continued to mount on the government to dual the 461-kilometre highway, which carries heavy traffic between Nairobi and the Coast.
Plans announced in 2017 to award construction of a dual carriageway to an American company did not materialise.
A subsequent Sh468 billion Usahihi Expressway proposal was also rejected and terminated over concerns about its cost and fiscal risks.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said in March 2026 that assessment of the proposed public-private partnership was nearing completion ahead of the planned commencement of works.
