Several Feared Dead After Matatu and Lorry Collide in Early-Morning Crash Near Machakos Junction
Several people are feared dead following a serious road accident involving a passenger matatu and a lorry early on Sunday, November 23, near the well-known Machakos Junction.
According to preliminary reports, the collision occurred when the two vehicles crashed head-on, leaving multiple passengers fatally injured at the scene. Emergency responders said the severity of the impact caused the matatu to overturn, scattering luggage — including farm produce — across the busy roadway.
Witnesses described the wreckage as “shocking”, with the front of the matatu extensively crushed. The lorry, identified as a concrete-mixer truck, also sustained significant front-end damage. Authorities had yet to confirm the condition of its driver at the time of reporting.
Residents living near the junction rushed to assist moments after the crash, helping to lift the overturned matatu as rescue operations continued. Police and medical personnel later joined the response effort, though officials warned that the full number of casualties had not yet been established.
Early investigations suggest that the lorry may have lost control before veering into the oncoming lane, colliding with the Nairobi-bound matatu travelling towards Machakos.
The incident marks the second fatal accident in the Ukambani region in less than three days. On Saturday, six people — including four KCSE candidates — were killed in Mbooni, Makueni County, after a lorry that had reportedly lost control rammed into a stationary 14-seater matatu picking up passengers. A witness at the scene of that crash told reporters that the lorry “just veered off the tarmac and hit the matatu without warning”.
The latest tragedies add to mounting concerns over road safety nationwide. According to recently released figures from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Kenya has recorded 376 driver fatalities in 2025 so far, alongside 681 passenger deaths.
Nairobi County remains the worst-affected region, reporting 447 road-crash deaths between January 1 and October 31, 2025. It is followed by Kiambu (387) and Nakuru (318). Machakos, Murang’a and Kisumu complete the top six counties with the highest fatality numbers.
With the festive season approaching — a period traditionally associated with increased travel and heightened road risks — NTSA has announced a strengthened enforcement plan. The authority said it will work closely with the National Police Service to implement multi-agency road-safety interventions aimed at curbing further loss of life.
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Several Feared Dead After Matatu and Lorry Collide in Early-Morning Crash Near Machakos Junction