A devastating multi-vehicle crash occurred on Saturday, October 3, at Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, resulting in the deaths of 17 people. Makueni County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif confirmed the death toll, stating that a lorry with brake failure rammed into five vehicles, including a 14-seater van. The incident has sparked an investigation by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) into vehicle compliance and the circumstances surrounding the crash.
According to Commissioner Khalif, the lorry driver lost control of the vehicle due to reported brake failure, colliding with other vehicles, including the 14-seater van. The victims include the lorry driver, three passengers traveling in the truck, and several occupants of the van, who were on their way to a prayer service. The incident has raised concerns about road safety standards on one of Kenya's most heavily trafficked routes.
The NTSA has dispatched a multi-disciplinary crash investigation team to Salama to determine the full circumstances surrounding the collision. The team will focus on vehicle inspection and compliance, given that the Mlima Kiu-Salama stretch is a recognized accident blackspot. The authority has already put forward recommendations to address safety concerns along that corridor.
In a statement, the NTSA extended its condolences to those affected by the Salama incident. The authority urged the public to await the findings of the investigation while calling on all road users to exercise extreme caution, avoid dangerous overtaking, and strictly observe lane discipline. The NTSA's efforts aim to enhance road safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Injured survivors were taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-county Hospital, where six people received treatment and were subsequently discharged. The bodies of those who died were transported to nearby mortuaries, pending post-mortem examinations and formal identification by their families. Traffic police officers cleared the wreckage from the highway to restore traffic flow along the busy corridor.
This incident is the latest in a series of fatal accidents to strike the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway over the past two months, intensifying public scrutiny of road safety standards. The NTSA's investigation will likely examine whether the vehicles involved met compliance requirements, and the findings may lead to changes in road safety policies.
The NTSA's investigation team is expected to provide a comprehensive report on the incident, which will inform measures to prevent similar accidents in the future. Meanwhile, the public is urged to exercise caution on the roads, and vehicle owners are reminded of the importance of regular maintenance to ensure roadworthiness.
Key points
- The NTSA has dispatched a multi-disciplinary crash investigation team to Salama to probe vehicle compliance and the circumstances of the crash.
- The incident has raised concerns about road safety standards on one of Kenya's most heavily trafficked routes.
- The Mlima Kiu-Salama stretch is a recognized accident blackspot, and recommendations to address safety concerns have already been put forward.
