Fresh details reveal blunder that led to deadly Nairobi-Mombasa Road crash
By Paulette Mboga, July 7, 2026Fresh details have emerged about the deadly crash along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway after police said one of the lorries was overtaking before the collision.
The accident happened near Kapiti Plains in Machakos County and involved two lorries, a bus and at least three other vehicles.
The crash happened at around 1:50 am on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Police said the overtaking lorry triggered the chain of events that ended in the fatal accident. At least six people lost their lives while several others suffered injuries.
Kalama Sub-County police commander Patrick Gaitirira said one of the ill-fated lorries was overtaking, leading to the fatal crash. Police began investigating the circumstances that led to the collision as officers also coordinated rescue efforts at the scene.
Rescue operation after collision
Police said the first impact caused one of the lorries to lose control. The lorry then moved into the path of an oncoming bus, resulting in a head-on collision. The force of the crash also involved at least three other vehicles.
“It was so serious that on the spot, we had 6 people who died and others sustaining serious and minor injuries. The trapped bodies have been retrieved from the bus and taken to Machakos Level 5 hospital,” Patrick Gaitirira said.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the accident. Rescue teams worked to remove passengers who had been trapped inside the damaged bus.
Authorities confirmed that 41 survivors were rushed to Machakos Level 5 Hospital for treatment. Some suffered serious injuries while others escaped with minor injuries.
The accident caused major damage to the vehicles involved, and the police secured the scene as rescue work and investigations continued. Officers have also managed traffic along the busy highway during the operation.
Investigators are expected to establish the full sequence of events surrounding the crash. Early findings indicate that the overtaking manoeuvre by one of the lorries set off the collision. Police continued gathering information as efforts to determine the exact cause of the accident went on.