A journey back to Mombasa following the burial of a fellow bishop turned tragic after a bus carrying clergy members and their families collided head-on with a truck at Kanga, near Mtito Andei, along the busy Mombasa-Nairobi Highway. At least 25 people died in the crash, which occurred at around 7:45 a.m., leaving survivors struggling to come to terms with the tragedy as they recounted their final moments before the collision, desperate attempts to rescue fellow passengers and the anguish of not knowing the fate of their loved ones. Preliminary investigations indicate that the bus, which had a seating capacity of 52 passengers, had been driven for more than 16 hours without another driver to relieve the person behind the wheel, raising concerns about driver fatigue and road safety. “ The driver had driven the vehicle from Lugari in Kakamega County all the way here. He did not have anyone else to assist him. He must have been exhausted,” said Pastor Cosmas Nyangweso, one of the survivors. Nyangweso said he saw the bus begin to sway on the road moments before it collided with the oncoming truck. According to a police report, the bus was attempting to overtake other vehicles when the driver lost control. Makueni County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif said the bus skidded into the opposite lane before colliding with the truck, causing a substantial section of its roof to be ripped off. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) said preliminary reports indicated that the vehicles collided head-on, with improper overtaking among the possible contributing factors. Journey Home Turns into a Nightmare The bus was returning to Mombasa after its passengers attended the burial of Bishop Isaiah Kiganane in Marakusi village, Kakamega County, on Saturday. Bishop Zachariah Mwagandi, the head of Glorious River International Church, said the clergy members had discussed whether to return to Mombasa on the same day following the burial. They eventually decided to depart at around 6 p.m. and travel through the night. “We were happy when we left Mtito Andei after having breakfast at around 7 a.m. We had agreed to go directly to the home of the late bishop, where our journey had begun on Thursday,” Mwagandi said. However, the mood of the journey changed abruptly when the accident occurred just 15 minutes after the group had left Mtito Andei. What had begun as a trip to honour a fellow religious leader ended in a devastating loss of life, leaving families and church congregations across the Coast region waiting for information about their relatives. The circumstances surrounding the crash have also raised questions about the risks associated with long-distance journeys undertaken overnight, particularly when drivers do not have adequate rest or relief. Survivors Join Rescue Efforts Pastor Spenza Mdave of Voice of Faith Church in Malindi said survivors had to work alongside the bus driver to pull fellow passengers from the wreckage. He also expressed frustration that some motorists who passed the scene allegedly ignored their desperate calls for assistance. “We worked together with the driver to rescue the survivors. Most of those who died were seated at the back of the bus,” Mdave said while at Mtito Andei Referral Hospital. The rescue efforts unfolded amid confusion and distress as survivors struggled to establish who had survived and who remained trapped inside the wreckage. For many, the immediate priority was helping the injured and locating relatives who had been travelling with them. Mdave, however, remained deeply worried about the fate of his four children, who had been on board the bus. He said he had begun the journey with five children, but one had alighted in Nairobi while the others insisted on continuing to Malindi to see their mother. The uncertainty surrounding his children added to the emotional toll of the tragedy as he waited for information about their whereabouts. Violet Mwandonyi, a relative of the late bishop, was also desperately seeking information about her two children who had been travelling on the bus. The tragedy left several families facing the agonising wait for confirmation about their loved ones, while those who survived began the difficult process of recovering from their injuries and emotional trauma. Mombasa Churches Mourn Their Leaders In Mombasa County, news of the deaths plunged church congregations and families into mourning. Pastor Joseph Vura of Campaign for Salvation and Healing Church was among those who lost their lives in the crash. His assistant, Pastor Andrew Mjomba, said Vura had called him at around 6:45 a.m. to explain that he would arrive late for a church service. “During the call, he was very happy and told me about the journey and the pastors he was travelling with. I did not know he was giving me his final message,” Mjomba said. Mjomba later received the devastating news that Vura was among those who had died. Pastor Isaac Juma of Grace Healing Centre Church was also confirmed dead, adding to the grief among religious communities in the Coast region. The deaths have left church members mourning leaders who played important roles in their congregations and community activities. For the families of the deceased, the loss has been compounded by the suddenness of the tragedy and the difficult task of making funeral arrangements. More Than 30 Clergy Members Had Travelled to Kakamega Pastor Isaac Wangila of Glory Worship Centre said more than 30 pastors had travelled from Mombasa to Kakamega to attend the burial. He said Pastor Stephen Ouma sustained injuries to his chest and head in the crash. Wangila also reported that three pastors from Bangladesh were among those said to have died, although their identities and the circumstances of their deaths require confirmation by the relevant authorities. The presence of clergy members from different backgrounds on the journey highlights the wide circle of religious communities affected by the tragedy. The accident has prompted calls for urgent assistance for the injured, support for bereaved families and measures to prevent similar incidents on the country's major highways. Mombasa Preachers Seek Government Assistance The Mombasa Preachers' Forum has appealed to the government to provide emergency support to the survivors and families affected by the crash. The forum wants survivors requiring specialised medical attention to be airlifted to facilities capable of providing the necessary treatment. It has also called on the government to waive or settle hospital bills and assist families struggling to meet funeral expenses. The requests reflect concerns about the financial burden facing families who must now deal with medical treatment, the loss of income and funeral arrangements following the tragedy. The forum's appeal also places pressure on relevant government agencies to coordinate assistance for the injured and ensure that bereaved families receive timely information and support. Fresh Calls to Expand the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway The latest crash has renewed calls for the expansion of the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, one of Kenya's most important transport corridors. The accident occurred just three weeks after 17 Catholic pilgrims reportedly died in another road crash near Salama, intensifying concerns about road safety along the highway. The route serves thousands of motorists, public service vehicles, commercial trucks and long-distance buses travelling between the Coast and other parts of the country. Its importance to passenger transport and the movement of goods has made road safety along the corridor a recurring public concern. Calls for expansion have been accompanied by demands for stronger enforcement of traffic regulations, improved driver monitoring and greater attention to the condition and safety of vehicles operating on the highway. However, road expansion alone may not eliminate accidents. Effective enforcement of traffic laws, compliance with driving-hour requirements, proper vehicle maintenance and responsible driving practices are also critical to reducing fatalities. The latest tragedy has therefore renewed debate about the combination of infrastructure improvements and enforcement measures needed to make the highway safer. NTSA Calls for National Emergency Response to Road Crashes NTSA Director-General Nashon Kondiwa said road accidents had reached a national emergency level, with approximately 5,000 people losing their lives on Kenyan roads annually. Kondiwa argued that declaring road crashes a national disaster would help the government coordinate safety interventions, increase funding and establish measurable targets for reducing fatalities. Such an approach could bring together government agencies, transport operators, road safety organisations and other stakeholders to address the causes of fatal crashes more effectively. It could also support improved public awareness campaigns, stronger enforcement of traffic regulations and more systematic monitoring of accident trends. The latest crash has highlighted concerns about driver fatigue, risky overtaking and the vulnerability of passengers travelling on busy highways. Investigators will need to establish the precise circumstances of the collision and determine whether driver fatigue, improper overtaking, vehicle condition or other factors contributed to the crash. Their findings could help inform measures aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future. A Tragedy That Leaves Families Searching for Answers As survivors receive medical attention and families begin mourning their loved ones, the crash has once again drawn attention to the devastating human cost of road accidents in Kenya. Beyond the official death toll are families facing uncertainty, children who may have lost parents, congregations mourning their spiritual leaders and survivors struggling with the physical and psychological consequences of the collision. The calls for emergency assistance and improvements to road safety underscore the need for both immediate support and long-term action. For the families affected by the tragedy, the priority remains identifying their loved ones, obtaining treatment for the injured and making arrangements for those who died. As investigations continue, the deaths of 25 people in the Kanga crash serve as a grim reminder of the urgent need to strengthen road safety measures and protect passengers travelling along Kenya's busiest highways.