Six killed in head-on matatu–bus crash near Konza

Six people died on Friday night after a Naekana Sacco matatu collided head-on with a Tahmeed Express bus near Konza City along the Mombasa–Nairobi highway.

The accident deepens concerns over public service vehicle (PSV) safety on Kenya’s major corridors.

Mukaa Sub-county Police Commander Hussein Abduba said the incident occurred late Friday night and left seven others critically injured and rushed to Machakos County Referral Hospital for treatment.

“Six passengers died instantly following the impact, while seven others sustained critical injuries,” Mr Abduba said.

The matatu’s front was crushed, trapping passengers as emergency responders, including traffic police and medical teams, worked to evacuate survivors.

Witnesses at the scene described the collision as violent, saying the matatu appeared to have been moving at high speed.

“There was a loud bang and people started screaming. The front of the matatu was completely crushed,” said Mr James Kilonzi a trader from Emali who witnessed the aftermath.

The crash comes against the backdrop of a major NTSA enforcement action from December 2025 targeting unsafe drivers and operator non-compliance.

In a statement released on December 9, 2025, the National Transport and Safety Authority announced the suspension of licences for 62 PSV drivers from seven operators after a compliance assessment revealed serious safety breaches.

Tahmeed Express Limited accounted for the highest number of suspensions, with 23 drivers affected, followed by Latema Travellers Bus and Safari Company Limited (13), Meru Nissan Operators Sacco (10), and others.