Traffic Disrupted as Lorries Burst into Flames at Makindu Along Nairobi-Mombasa Highway

Several people are feared dead after two trucks collided head-on and burst into flames at Kiunduani in Makindu, along Mombasa Road on Sunday, November 8.

Reports indicate that the Sunday accident left four people with severe burns dead after succumbing to severe burns.

The collision happened before the trucks caught fire, trapping the occupants inside the wreckage along the busy highway.

Witness accounts revealed that among the dead are one lady and two drivers belonging to the two trucks. 

Footage obtained by Kenyans.co.ke shows traffic building up as a result of the incident, with trucks and other vehicles now being forced to use the shoulder of the highway to reach the other side of the road.

The images further showed passersby attempting to extinguish the fire, while emergency responders were not visible at the time they were captured.

At the time of this publication, it remained unclear whether the fire had been brought under control, with the cause of the incident yet to be established.

The 461-kilometre Nairobi-Mombasa Highway has recorded several deadly accidents this year, amid a 9.2 per cent nationwide rise in road fatalities reported by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

It has recorded over 40 fatalities since October, with recent incidents including the November 8 Kiunduani crash that killed four, the October 25 Kanga collision killing 22, the October 3 Salama crash killing 17, the September 23 Taru accident claiming 2 lives, and the September 16 Kapiti crash killing 5.

To fix this situation, the government has shifted from building a separate expressway to expanding the existing highway into a dual carriageway.

The estimated Ksh300 billion project will introduce at least four lanes, controlled access points, interchanges and tolling, with Treasury evaluating bids and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) engaging local financiers.