A section of the busy Nairobi–Mombasa Highway was brought to a standstill on Tuesday morning after a multiple-truck accident near Makindu caused massive congestion and travel delays stretching for kilometres.
The crash, which occurred near the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Makindu campus, involved at least four trucks, including one hauling rolled steel, which was pushed off the road by the force of the impact.
According to preliminary reports, the trucks were likely speeding and tailgating, leading to a series of rear-end collisions.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the pile-up began when one truck lost control, veering into oncoming traffic and triggering a chain reaction of collisions among the heavy commercial vehicles.
“One of the trucks seemed to be swerving, maybe trying to brake, and then it just hit the others in front.
The next thing we saw was metal and debris everywhere,” said John Mwanzia, a matatu driver caught in the jam.
Photos and videos captured at the scene showed extensive damage to the trucks, with twisted metal strewn across both lanes. The steel cargo from one truck was seen lodged in a roadside embankment, making recovery efforts more difficult.
By late morning, emergency services and traffic police had arrived at the scene and were working to clear the wreckage and restore traffic flow.
However, as of publication, no official reports had been released on the number of injuries or fatalities.
Motorists reported that the crash had rendered both lanes impassable, with the traffic jam stretching for several kilometres in either direction.
Some drivers attempted to detour through smaller feeder roads, though these too became overwhelmed with redirected traffic.
The incident comes just a day after Saba Saba Day protests caused widespread disruption to transportation across the country.
Demonstrations and roadblocks in various towns had already left major highways and urban centres clogged, with transport of goods and passengers severely affected.
“We thought today would be better after yesterday’s chaos, but now we’re stuck again,” lamented Mwikali Mutua, a truck driver en route to Mombasa.
“This highway is a lifeline for many, and accidents like this make everything worse.”
Motorists and business owners have since urged authorities to speed up clearance efforts and review traffic safety regulations, especially for heavy-duty vehicles plying long-distance routes.
Police have not yet issued a formal statement on the accident but have advised drivers to exercise patience and caution, and, where possible, delay travel or use alternative routes until the wreckage is cleared.
