Salama Crash: Motorists Association Faults Govt Over Nairobi-Mombasa Highway Safety

The Motorists Association of Kenya has raised alarm over the state of the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway and faulted the government after a Salama crash killed 17 people shortly after midnight.

The association questioned why the government has not systematically widened and upgraded the highway’s most dangerous sections despite the enormous volumes of passenger and commercial traffic using the major corridor.

“Why does the Government continue to tolerate a highway carrying such enormous volumes of passenger and commercial traffic without systematically widening and upgrading its most dangerous sections? It defies logic. How many more families must bury their loved ones before the road is treated as the national economic and safety priority it is? Does Transcom House, which houses the Ministry of Roads and Transport, have a conscience?” the Association asked.

Salama Crash Raises Alarm Over Night Driving

According to the association, the Salama tragedy highlighted the dangers of night driving on major long-distance routes, where fatigue, poor visibility, risky overtaking and mechanical failures can lead to deadly crashes.

“The death of 17 people in the Salama crash on the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway shortly after midnight today is another devastating reminder of the dangers of night driving, particularly on a major long-distance corridor where fatigue, poor visibility, risky overtaking and mechanical failures can turn a moment of error into mass casualties; long-distance truck drivers, often operating through the night, face an especially serious fatigue risk,” the Association said.

Also Read: Ruto Mourns 17 Catholic Pilgrims Killed in Salama Road Accident Involving Matatu and Lorry

Furthermore, the association highlighted the risks faced by long-distance truck drivers who operate through the night, noting that fatigue can pose a serious safety concern on a busy corridor carrying heavy commercial traffic.

The Salama crash has also renewed attention on the risks motorists face when travelling along the highway after dark.

Nairobi-Mombasa Highway Carnage Raises Concern

For years, the association said, repeated crashes along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway have inflicted pain on Kenyan families, with many travellers failing to reach their destinations.

“The carnage on this constricted Mombasa–Nairobi Highway has been a pain inflicted on Kenyan families for years, with too many people leaving home and never returning,” the statement said.

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Beyond the immediate tragedy, the association called for improvements on sections of the highway it considers particularly dangerous, arguing that the road’s importance to passenger and commercial transport demands sustained attention to safety.

Following the latest Salama crash, concerns have again emerged over road safety on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, particularly regarding night travel, infrastructure and the risks associated with long-distance traffic.

Ultimately, the Salama tragedy has added to calls for greater attention to road safety and improvements along the busy highway.

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The wreckage of a 14-seater matatu involved in an accident at the Salama area along Nairobi-Momba highway on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Photo/Ngoso News