On an ordinary day, the Manyani, Maungu and Mackinnon stretches of the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway usually bustle with activity.
But the areas continue to gain national notoriety thanks to their reputation as road crash blackspots.
In the past one week, 12 people have died in grisly crashes at these spots, with authorities blaming speeding, careless overtaking and free-wheeling.
Traffic police have now intensified patrols along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway after an increase in road accidents.
“We are now regularly doing patrols on this road both during the day and night because it has become notorious with minor and major accidents,” said Kinango police boss Fred Ombaka.
In the latest accident on Christmas Day, six people died in the Mackinnon Road area after two cars collided head-on.
Two of the victims were burnt beyond recognition when their vehicle burst into flames.
Police said two other people were seriously injured and rushed to Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi.
Mr Ombaka said the driver of a BMW heading to Mombasa from Nairobi tried to overtake a vehicle and collided head-on with a Subaru Legacy.
The Subaru, with six occupants, veered off the road, killing four people on the spot.
Among those killed were the driver, a woman and two children.
Traffic along Mombasa highway caused by an accident on a bridge in Manyani on December 25, 2021.
“The two occupants of the BMW … were burnt beyond recognition. Their bodies were taken to Moi Hospital for identification and postmortem,” he said.
Mr Ombaka called on motorists to be cautious during this festive period.
“We are calling on our drivers to be careful while on our roads. We know some of these accidents can be avoided if only we become more careful,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, two people died in an accident in the Maungu area. The crash, involving a Toyota Vitz and a truck, also left two people critically injured.
Voi sub-county police Commander Bernastein Shari said the vehicles collided head-on when the driver of the saloon car heading in the Nairobi direction swerved to avoid hitting a vehicle ahead but lost control and hit the oncoming truck in the opposite lane.
Survivors were rushed to the Moi Referral, where they were receiving treatment.
“The driver of the truck did not suffer any injuries. However, the two occupants of the other vehicle were seriously injured,” he said.
He said police were investigating the incident and cautioned motorists to be extra cautious when approaching the Maungu-Manyani stretch, where accidents were reported to be increasing recently.
Two days before that, four people perished and 20 others were seriously injured in an accident in Manyani after a Dreamline bus collided head-on with a truck.
The drivers of the two vehicles, the turn boy of the lorry and an unknown female passenger died in the crash.
Seventeen passengers were injured and rushed to Moi Referral.
He said the bus, which was heading to Mombasa from Busia, was overtaking a truck when the accident occurred.
“The driver of the bus tried to overtake the truck ahead of him but could not manage the distance and caused the accident. The four died on the spot,” he said.
Moi Referral Superintendent Dr Felix Kimotho said the number of accidents had increased during the holiday season.
“The hotspots are between Manyani and Maungu,” he said.
“Sometimes, we have to recall our medics who are on leave to help in the casualty area, X-ray and CT scan department…Motorists should be careful,” he said.
Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata urged drivers to be vigilant during this festive season. BY DAILY NATION