Two major collisions on the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway this month have killed more than 40 people, intensifying calls for stronger road‑safety measures.

The latest incident occurred on Sunday, 25 October, when a Power of the Word Church International bus collided head‑on with a lorry‑trailer near Kanga, Mtito Andei, killing 23 passengers.

Police reports state the bus was carrying 45 passengers from western Kenya to Mombasa after a burial ceremony; 12 women, 10 men and one juvenile died, while 25 others were injured and taken to Mtito Andei Hospital.

Preliminary findings suggest the bus was overtaking several vehicles shortly before the crash, though investigations remain ongoing.

The Kanga tragedy follows a 3‑week‑old collision on 3 October at Mlima Kiu, Salama, where 17 Catholic pilgrims died after a lorry allegedly overtook other vehicles and lost control, striking a Toyota Hiace and other trucks.

President William Ruto has ordered thorough inspections of public service vehicles and urged drivers to observe traffic rules, emphasizing the need for compliance with safety standards.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is seeking a national disaster declaration for road traffic crashes, citing roughly 20,000 crashes and over 5,000 deaths annually, to mobilise funding and coordinated enforcement.

Authorities point to identified black‑spot sections of the highway—including Salama‑Sultan Hamud, Emali Simba Market to Kibwezi, and Mtito Andei‑Tsavo River—as priority areas for safety improvements.

The recent accidents have renewed public and governmental pressure for safer road infrastructure, stricter traffic‑law enforcement, and implementation of prior safety recommendations.