Several Feared Dead as Matatu Collides With Truck Near Kapiti Plains on Mombasa-Nairobi Highway

Several people are feared dead after an 18-seater matatu reportedly collided with a truck along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway near Kapiti Plains.

The crash left the matatu badly damaged, with a number of passengers reportedly suffering serious injuries. Motorists and residents who witnessed the collision rushed to the scene to assist, and rescue efforts began soon after, with police officers, emergency responders, and members of the public working together to free passengers trapped in the wreckage.

Survivors with injuries were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. While initial reports suggest some passengers may have died at the scene, authorities had not confirmed the exact number of casualties at the time of reporting.

The cause of the collision has not yet been established. Police are expected to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash, including whether speeding, careless driving, mechanical failure, or other factors may have contributed. Images from the scene showed the front of the matatu severely crushed, underscoring the force of the impact and the difficulty of the rescue operation.

The incident has renewed concerns about road safety along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, one of the country's busiest transport corridors, used daily by thousands of passenger vehicles, private cars, and heavy trucks.

Kapiti Plains was also the site of a deadly crash in July 2026, when a passenger bus and two lorries were involved in a collision that left six people dead and seven others injured, according to police reports at the time.

Authorities are urging motorists to exercise caution on the highway, including observing speed limits, avoiding risky overtaking, and maintaining safe following distances. Further details on the number of casualties and the cause of this latest crash are expected once police complete their initial investigation.