Driver of Bus in Accident That Killed 22 at Kanga, Mtito Andei Was Sleepy, Survivor Claims

A survivor of a horrific head-on collision between a church bus and a truck has claimed the driver appeared to be drowsy shortly before the crash that left 22 people dead on the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway.

Pastor Cosmas Nyangweso, one of 45 worshippers from The Christian Renewal Centre in Likoni, Mombasa, survived the accident and spoke to journalists from his hospital bed at Mtito Andei Sub-County Hospital.

The survivor is being treated for broken upper limbs.

"We were from a burial ceremony in Lugari, western. The journey was okay through long with the driver seemingly sleepy," Nyangweso said.

The group had travelled to Makusi, Kakamega County, to bury their colleague, the late Reverend Kiganane, before tragedy struck on their journey home.

The accident occurred at Kanga, near Mtito Andei inside Tsavo National Park, Makueni County.

Among those killed were mourners who had been returning to Mombasa after the burial in Lugari, western Kenya.

Nyangweso described how the bus had left a stopover in Mtito Andei at around 7am before the driver attempted to overtake several vehicles along the Kanga stretch.

While overtaking, the bus swerved off the road to the right and collided head-on with a truck that was itself trying to avoid the crash.

"We were thrown outside the bus. Where I was lying there were bodies and other people crying for help, but assistance came way long after hours," Nyangweso added, describing the chaotic aftermath as passengers from both vehicles were flung onto the roadside.

Makueni County Commissioner Abdulahi Khalif said the force of the collision was severe enough to tear off half the bus's body.

Khalif linked the crash to a troubling pattern of road accidents during the festive season.

"In less than a month, we lost 17 Catholic faithful from Mombasa who were headed to Subukia shrine and this is yet another fatal accident. As this festive season sets in, I call upon drivers to be vigilant and if a bus is travelling long distances then that company ought to have an assistant driver to avoid accidents occurring due to fatigue," he said.

Makueni County Chief Officer for Health, Dr Mulei Mbithi, confirmed that 17 people died at the scene, while five others later succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at Mtito Andei Sub-County Hospital.

Sixteen patients remain under treatment at the facility, while two others have since been transferred to Makindu Sub-County Hospital for further care.

The Mombasa Pastors Fellowship has joined the Christian Renewal Centre community in mourning the deaths.

Bishop Simeon Peter Menza urged the public to remain calm as the Fellowship works alongside relevant authorities to establish the full details of the accident and coordinate support for affected families.

Mombasa Pastors Fellowship West Zone Secretary, Pastor Ken Wanga, said the bus had been carrying around 50 people, including 12 pastors, along with relatives and friends who had travelled together for the burial.

According to Wanga, the Fellowship has so far confirmed the deaths of three pastors, with other members still undergoing hospital treatment.

Full casualty figures were yet to be finalised at the time of reporting.

"We are appealing to the national and county governments to assist the affected families, facilitate specialised treatment for critically injured victims, and consider waiving hospital bills arising from the accident," Wanga said.

The accident has renewed calls for improved road safety along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, with clergy members urging the government to assess dangerous sections of the road, improve warning signage, and widen narrow stretches where necessary.