A fatal road accident at Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway resulted in over five fatalities after a head-on crash between a Naekana public service vehicle (PSV) and a truck.
Reports confirm that two of the deceased were students from Emali Township heading home for the mid-term break when the incident happened Saturday afternoon.
An eyewitness suggested the collision might have been triggered by reduced visibility and wet road conditions due to persistent rainfall affecting various regions of the country.
Witnesses described the impact as severe, with both vehicles sustaining substantial damage. Photos showed the overturned wreckage of the matatu as police managed rescue operations at the location.
Local residents assisting at the scene indicated that police faced difficulties in organizing rescue operations due to insufficient emergency ambulance availability. Officers in the locality had to arrange alternative transportation.
Medical staff at Sultan Hamud Hospital reported numerous other passengers injured and undergoing treatment. Among the survivors, a female student from Ukia Girls High School is said to be in critical condition.
Meanwhile, local residents have criticized the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) for what they perceive as slow response to persistent calls to redesign and expand this road section, which they claim has resulted in multiple fatalities in the past.
Residents argued that the substantial traffic flow along the Nairobi-Mombasa transport corridor keeps drivers and passengers at considerable risk without immediate engineering enhancements.
They have additionally requested road improvements, including redesigning sharp bends, expanding the roadway, and upgrading road infrastructure.
The Saturday collision created substantial traffic congestion along the affected stretch, with police dispatched to alleviate the blockage and restore regular traffic movement.