Rain, slippery roads blamed in fatal Naekana matatu crash

avdeltanews@gmail.com

More than five people died instantly when a Naekana Sacco matatu collided head-on with a lorry at Salama Downtown along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway on Saturday afternoon.

Residents say heavy rains and a slippery road caused the crash, which also left several others seriously injured.

Among the dead were reportedly two students from Emali Township travelling home for the half-term break.

The impact left both vehicles badly damaged, with the matatu overturned.

Witnesses said the absence of ambulances slowed evacuation, forcing police and residents to improvise transport for the injured.

Medical staff at Sultan Hamud Hospital confirmed several victims were being treated, with one Ukia Girls High School student in critical condition.

Locals blamed the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) for failing to widen and redesign the dangerous stretch, arguing that repeated accidents demand urgent action.

“This road becomes a death trap during rains,” a resident said.

Road safety analysts say the tragedy exposes persistent risks on Kenya’s highways: narrow lanes, heavy traffic mix, poor drainage, and slippery surfaces during wet weather.

Head-on collisions are particularly deadly because of the combined forces of the vehicles.

Authorities are investigating the crash while calling for better signage, drainage improvements, and speed controls.

Experts urge motorists to drive cautiously in wet conditions, emphasizing that slowing down and keeping distance can save lives.