At least six people lost their lives early Thursday morning after a bus collided head-on with a trailer along the busy Nairobi–Mombasa highway in the Manyatta area.
Coast regional traffic commander Asha Wario confirmed the fatalities, noting that the bus driver was attempting to overtake when the trailer struck the vehicle, severely damaging its right side before it veered off the road. Several passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to Moi Referral Hospital in Voi for treatment.
Rescue teams responded swiftly to the crash site, transporting survivors to medical facilities and securing the area as investigations began. Authorities say reckless overtaking, speeding, and drunk driving remain the leading causes of such tragedies, despite ongoing awareness campaigns by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
The accident adds to a grim tally of road fatalities across Kenya, with traffic officials reporting more than 300 deaths nationwide in the past month alone.
This latest incident echoes other recent tragedies. On Saturday evening, a lorry carrying building blocks lost control and plowed into roadside traders at Kabarnet Market in Baringo County, killing three people. County officials have since urged traders to remain within designated areas to avoid similar disasters.
Back in Taita Taveta, police emphasized the need for strict adherence to traffic rules, especially during overtaking maneuvers and in rainy conditions. “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” Wario said, reiterating calls for caution and compliance on Kenya’s highways.
Families of the deceased are mourning their loved ones, while survivors continue to recover in hospital. Authorities have pledged a thorough review of the Manyatta crash to help prevent future tragedies on the heavily trafficked Nairobi–Mombasa route.
