KENYA · MAKUENI COUNTY · BREAKING
A passenger bus and a lorry collided head-on on Kenya’s main road from Nairobi to Mombasa on Sunday morning, and at least 22 people died.
Published Sunday, 25 October, 11:20 a.m. ET · Source: Kenyan press reports and the EFE news agency
Key Facts
- Toll: At least 22 dead, up from 20 after two injured people died.
- Where: Kanga, near the town of Mtito Andei, in Makueni County, southern Kenya.
- When: Sunday morning, 25 October, at about 7:00 a.m. Kenya time (around midnight Eastern Time).
- Why it matters: The road links Kenya’s capital to its main seaport, Mombasa.
- Cause: Not yet established; Kenya’s road-safety regulator suspects improper overtaking.
At least 22 people died on Sunday 25 October 2026 when a bus and a lorry collided head-on at Kanga, in Makueni County in southern Kenya, officials said. The crash happened on Sunday morning, at around 7:00 a.m. local time, on the highway between the capital, Nairobi, and the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa.
Abdullahi Khalif, the government’s commissioner for Makueni County, first confirmed 20 deaths, according to a report from EFE, Spain’s national news agency, carried by the Latin American news site Infobae. The toll rose to 22 after two injured passengers died, the report said.
The Star, a Nairobi newspaper, and Capital FM, a Kenyan radio and news outlet, also reported 22 dead.
What We Know About the Crash
The bus was carrying people home from a burial ceremony, according to The Star and Capital FM. The injured were taken to Mtito Andei Sub-County Hospital.
Dr Kevin Wamalwa, the hospital’s medical superintendent, told reporters: “It is a serious accident. We are attending to those who have survived.”
He said some people died while receiving treatment, and that staff were compiling a list of the victims.
In Plain English
- Makueni County: a county in southern Kenya that the Nairobi-Mombasa highway crosses.
- Mtito Andei: a town on the highway whose hospital treated the injured.
- Lorry: the British word for a heavy truck.
Investigators Look at Overtaking
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Kenya’s road-safety regulator, said in a statement that preliminary information indicates the two vehicles collided head-on and suggests improper overtaking may have contributed, according to the EFE report. It said its accident investigation team is working with police to establish the full circumstances.
The Star reported that the cause had not been determined when it published, and accounts of how the crash unfolded differ. The death toll could still change as the injured are treated, and the number of injured has not been confirmed.
A Road With a Deadly Record
The crash comes weeks after another deadly collision in Makueni County. EFE reported that at least 17 people died in early October in a crash involving two lorries, a minibus and several cars.
EFE noted that Kenya as a whole suffers a high number of fatal road accidents, partly because of poor vehicle and road conditions. The Star reported that the police and the NTSA are running road-safety campaigns ahead of the December festive season.
The Associated Press reported that the NTSA lists this stretch as an accident black spot.
What It Means for You
The highway links Kenya’s capital with Mombasa, the country’s main seaport, and it is a main route for people and freight between the coast and the interior. Travellers planning road journeys on this corridor should check with their operators, as the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Officials have not yet named the victims, the bus operator or the final cause. Those details usually emerge from the police and NTSA investigations over the coming days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people died in the Kenya bus crash?
At least 22 people died, according to The Star and Capital FM, after the toll rose from 20.
Where did the crash happen?
At Kanga, near Mtito Andei in Makueni County, on the highway between Nairobi and Mombasa.
What caused the collision?
The cause is not confirmed. The road-safety regulator’s preliminary information suggests improper overtaking may have contributed.
Who was on the bus?
The bus was carrying people returning from a burial ceremony, according to The Star and Capital FM.
Has this road had other deadly crashes recently?
Yes. EFE reported that at least 17 people died in another Makueni County crash in early October.
Sources: The Star (Nairobi), Capital FM (Nairobi), Infobae (EFE), as of Sunday 25 October 2026. More from us: Eastern Africa.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief