A tragic road accident along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway claimed the lives of seven people and left 27 others with serious injuries on Sunday night. The crash occurred at Mlima Kiu near the ACK area in Salama, Makueni County.
According to police, the victims died on the spot after multiple vehicles were involved in the collision. The accident involved a truck, a bus, two saloon cars, and a motorcycle.
Emergency responders and police officers arrived at the scene shortly after the incident. They processed the area, removed the bodies, and transported them to a local mortuary pending autopsy and identification. Meanwhile, the injured victims were rushed to Sultan Hamud Subcounty Hospital for emergency treatment.
Eyewitnesses told The Star that several of the victims were in critical condition when they arrived at the hospital. The damaged vehicles were later towed to Salama Police Station, where they await inspection.
Authorities had not immediately established whether any of the drivers were among those who lost their lives in the crash. The accident also caused a major traffic snarl-up along the busy highway, although traffic officers eventually cleared the congestion and restored the flow of vehicles.
The cause of the accident remains unknown, and police have launched investigations to determine what led to the deadly collision.
The Mlima Kiu section of the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway has long been regarded as a black spot due to its history of fatal accidents. Numerous crashes, often linked to head-on collisions, overspeeding, dangerous overtaking, and poor visibility, have been reported along this stretch.
Sultan Hamud Subcounty Hospital frequently receives accident victims from crashes occurring along the highway because of its proximity to the area. Over the years, the road section has witnessed several deadly incidents.
One such tragedy occurred on February 21, 2026, when five people died after a Naekana Sacco matatu collided head-on with a lorry during heavy rainfall.
Residents have repeatedly accused the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) of failing to redesign or widen the Salama stretch despite the recurring fatal accidents. In response to the continued loss of life along the route, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), together with the police, has consistently urged motorists to avoid speeding, reckless overtaking, and night driving on this section of the highway.
