KeNHA unveils safety measures after Salma crash killed 17
KeNHA Director of Maintenance Ezekiel Fukwo said the government would improve road signage, install additional guardrails and solar lighting, and enhance lane separation to reduce accidents along the notorious stretch.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced a raft of short, medium and long-term measures to curb road accidents along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway following a grisly crash that killed 17 Catholic faithful at Salama.
KeNHA Director of Maintenance Ezekiel Fukwo said the government would improve road signage, install additional guardrails and solar lighting, and enhance lane separation to reduce accidents along the notorious stretch.
Fukwo spoke during a fact-finding visit to the scene of the October 2, 2026, accident, in which all 17 occupants of a van ferrying Catholic faithful, mostly women from the Mombasa Catholic Diocese, to Subukia Shrine in Nakuru County died.
He was accompanied by officials from KeNHA, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), traffic police and the Road Safety Association of Kenya.
The medium-term interventions include improving road markings, delineating climbing lanes and installing reflective road studs to enhance visibility at night.
Fukwo said long-term plans involved redesigning the highway section to include concrete barriers separating opposing traffic and an emergency runaway ramp for trucks experiencing brake failure while descending.
He urged motorists and other road users to observe traffic rules, stressing that road safety required collective responsibility.
Road safety campaigners, however, called for stronger enforcement and lasting infrastructure improvements.
Road Safety Association of Kenya chairman David Kiarie said upgrading the Nairobi-Mombasa highway into a dual carriageway would offer a lasting solution to recurring fatal crashes.
He also urged NTSA and traffic police to intensify vehicle inspections, particularly for heavy trucks prone to brake failure.
Association Secretary-General John Mutisya said speed cameras alone could not detect mechanical defects, calling for stricter enforcement of vehicle safety regulations.
Meanwhile, Nairobi Catholic Archbishop David Kamau expressed sorrow over the deaths, describing the tragedy as shocking because the victims had been travelling on a religious pilgrimage.
He urged Christians to remain spiritually prepared at all times.
