Traffic builds up as passersby try to extinguish the fire at Kiunduani.
Two trucks collided head-on near Makindu, trapping occupants as flames engulfed the vehicles and traffic built up.
Several people are feared dead after the Kiunduani truck crash on Sunday, November 8, along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. Two trucks collided head-on near Makindu before catching fire, trapping occupants inside the wreckage.
Witnesses reported that both drivers and a woman died in the collision. The woman was reportedly pregnant.
Meanwhile, footage of the scene showed passersby trying to put out the flames as traffic built up. Trucks and other vehicles used the highway shoulder to get past the crash site.
Kiunduani truck crash adds to highway toll
The collision follows several deadly crashes along the 461-kilometre Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. An October 25 collision at Kanga killed 22 people, while an October 3 crash at Salama claimed 17 lives.
Earlier, two people died in a September 23 accident at Taru. Another crash at Kapiti killed five people on September 16. Nationally, the National Transport and Safety Authority has reported a 9.2 per cent rise in road deaths this year.
Against this backdrop, the government has shifted from plans for a separate expressway to expanding the existing highway. The proposed dual carriageway project carries an estimated cost of Ksh300 billion.
The expansion would introduce at least four lanes, controlled access points, interchanges and tolling. Meanwhile, Treasury is evaluating bids, and the Kenya National Highways Authority is engaging local financiers.
