NAIROBI, Kenya: President William Ruto has ordered thorough inspections of public service vehicles across Kenya following a devastating road accident that killed at least 23 people along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway on Sunday.
The accident occurred on October 25, 2026, at Kanga near Mtito Andei in Makueni County, when a bus carrying mourners returning from a burial ceremony collided with a commercial truck.
The bus, belonging to Power of the Word Church International in Mombasa, was reportedly carrying 45 passengers travelling from western Kenya.
Preliminary investigations by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) suggest that improper overtaking may have contributed to the head-on collision.
In a statement on Sunday, Ruto expressed condolences to the bereaved families and called for stricter enforcement of road safety regulations.
“I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the 23 people who lost their lives in the tragic road accident at Kanga near Mtito Andei on Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in Makueni County,” Ruto said.
“This is a painful and devastating loss for the families and for the nation. We share in your grief during this difficult time, and we pray for strength and comfort for the families. I also wish a quick recovery to all those who were injured.”
The President urged motorists, particularly drivers of passenger vehicles, to exercise greater caution.
“I take this opportunity to urge all drivers, especially those operating public service vehicles, to exercise utmost caution and observe traffic rules to safeguard lives,” he said.
He subsequently directed government agencies responsible for transport safety to strengthen vehicle inspections.
“I further direct all relevant authorities to ensure thorough inspection of public service vehicles to guarantee compliance with safety standards so that accidents can be eliminated,” Ruto stated.
The directive comes amid growing concern over road fatalities in Kenya, where the NTSA estimates that more than 5,000 people die annually in approximately 20,000 road crashes.
The authority has called for road traffic accidents to be declared a national disaster to strengthen government coordination, enforcement and funding for road safety programmes.
Sunday’s tragedy also occurred barely three weeks after 17 people, including Catholic pilgrims, were killed in another crash at Salama along the same highway on October 3.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the government would intensify enforcement against dangerous overtaking, speeding and other traffic violations, alongside improvements to accident-prone sections of major highways.
“Road crashes continue to claim innocent lives, destroy families, overwhelm our health system and undermine national economic productivity. We cannot continue treating road safety as business as usual,” Chirchir said.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the latest collision, while survivors continue receiving medical treatment.