Seven Dead, 27 Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash on Mombasa-Nairobi Highway Near Salama

Seven people died and 27 others were critically injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway near Salama Township late on June 7, 2026. The incident involved a Rembo Shuttle bus colliding head-on with a trailer, along with two private cars and a motorcycle.

The Long-Distance Drivers and Conductors Association first alerted motorists to exercise caution as rescue operations unfolded at ACK Salama, close to Syokimau. Images from the scene showed the bus badly damaged beside a trailer loaded with a blue CMA CGM shipping container.

Kenya Red Cross confirmed the casualty figures. All 27 injured victims were rushed to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital for treatment. Family members gathered at the facility as medical teams worked to stabilise those hurt in the crash.

Mombasa Road, part of the A109 highway, links Nairobi to the port city and carries heavy commercial traffic around the clock. The section near Salama in Machakos County, roughly 85 kilometres from Nairobi and close to the Konza Technopolis area, often experiences shifting traffic patterns near junctions and service centres.

Rescue efforts involved Kenya Red Cross teams, county emergency services and National Police officers. They cleared victims from the wreckage and managed the site, causing significant delays for motorists before traffic slowly returned to normal.

Rembo Shuttle Sacco mainly operates between Kitengela and Nairobi. The company has expanded its fleet with modern vehicles, including electric buses in recent years. It was not immediately clear if the bus involved was one of the newer models.

Road safety continues to pose major challenges on Kenyan highways. Major corridors like Mombasa Road see frequent heavy vehicle movements, often at night when visibility is poor and fatigue can set in. The ACK Salama area is known locally for such risks.

Investigators have launched a probe into the cause. Common factors in such incidents include speed, overtaking manoeuvres, mechanical faults or road conditions. No official findings have been released yet.

The crash adds to longstanding concerns over safety on the Nairobi-Mombasa corridor. Engineers and transport officials have long pushed for better traffic separation, improved lighting and clearer signage in busy zones, yet serious accidents persist.

At Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital, staff attended to the injured while families awaited news. With seven confirmed fatalities, the toll underscores the human cost of road safety failures in the country.

The Rembo Shuttle service runs on one of Kenya’s most competitive public transport routes. This event is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of vehicle maintenance standards and driver working hours on long-haul operations.

Mombasa Road handles vital cargo and passenger flows linked to the Port of Mombasa. Disruptions from such crashes affect trade and daily commuting across the region. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers when fast-moving commercial traffic mixes on ageing infrastructure sections.

Further details are expected as investigations advance. Kenya Red Cross and other responders played a key role in the immediate aftermath, though the severity of the collision proved fatal for several victims.