NAIROBI, Kenya — At least 10 people have been reported killed and several others injured in two separate road accidents in Kisii and Machakos on Wednesday night, September 16, 2026.
Five people died after an 18-seater Kinatwa Sacco shuttle collided head-on with a trailer at Kapiti Plains along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, while another deadly crash was reported along the Kisii CBD-Daraja Mbili Road.
The circumstances of both crashes are under investigation.
Five Killed in Kapiti Plains Crash
Five people were killed and 13 others seriously injured after the Kinatwa shuttle collided head-on with a trailer at Kapiti Plains in Machakos County.
The crash occurred on Wednesday evening, with the shuttle carrying passengers when it collided with the oncoming heavy commercial vehicle.
The five victims died at the scene, while the injured were evacuated to Machakos Level 5 Hospital for treatment.
Recent reports confirmed that all 13 surviving occupants were taken to the Level 5 facility for specialised medical attention.
Images from the scene showed the front section of the shuttle extensively crushed, with members of the public and emergency responders helping to free people trapped inside the wreckage.
The two vehicles were subsequently taken for inspection as investigations into the crash continued.
Cause of Machakos Crash Under Investigation
The cause of the collision had not been conclusively established at the time of publication.
Police and other authorities are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the head-on collision.
Some preliminary accounts have suggested possible overtaking as a factor, but this had not been established as the official cause of the crash. Police investigations remain ongoing.
The accident also caused disruption along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway as emergency teams responded to the scene.
Kisii Lorry Crash
A separate accident was reported along the Kisii CBD-Daraja Mbili Road after a lorry reportedly lost control and struck pedestrians, traders and a motorcycle.
The incident occurred in the Choma Choma area, with several people sustaining serious injuries and being taken to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati confirmed the accident and directed the county Department of Health and Disaster Management to ensure the injured received urgent medical treatment.
“I have directed our County Department of Health and Disaster Management to ensure all the injured are receiving urgent and comprehensive medical attention at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital,” Arati said.
Conflicting Reports on Kisii Death Toll
The initial reports on the Kisii accident have differed on the number of people killed.
The account supplied for this report puts the Kisii death toll at five, which would bring the combined toll from the two crashes to 10.
However, early police and media reports put the Kisii toll at two to four deaths while reporting several others injured. Citizen Digital initially reported four deaths, while The Star later reported two deaths and 20 serious injuries in the crash.
The final casualty figure is therefore subject to confirmation by authorities.
Arati Orders Heavy Trucks Off Kisii CBD
Following the Kisii crash, Arati directed county officials to engage the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) over the movement of heavy commercial vehicles through the town centre.
He directed that heavy trucks and lorries be diverted through the Nyambera Bypass and the Stadium-Suneka route.
The governor also ordered county enforcement officers to work with Traffic Police to prevent lorries from being illegally parked within Kisii town and around the Waumini area.
Safety Audit Ordered at Waumini Plaza
Arati further directed authorities to conduct a safety audit of Waumini Plaza following the crash.
The move is intended to assess safety risks around the area where the accident occurred and identify measures that could reduce the likelihood of similar incidents.
The two crashes come amid renewed concerns over road safety, particularly involving heavy commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, pedestrians and motorcycles.
Authorities are expected to complete investigations into the separate accidents and establish the circumstances that led to the fatalities.
