Mtito Andei Crash: Pastor Who Lost 4 Relatives Recounts Terrifying Moments Before 24 Died

A pastor who survived the deadly bus accident near Mtito Andei has recounted the terrifying moments before the collision that claimed 24 lives and left several other passengers injured.

Reverend Spencer Mdave, a member of the Power of the Word International Church in Mombasa, was travelling with fellow worshippers after attending a pastor’s burial in western Kenya when tragedy struck along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.

The accident occurred at approximately 7:45 am near Kanga, close to Mtito Andei, when a lorry reportedly rammed into the church bus from behind.

The collision left passengers dead and injured, turning what had been a journey home into a devastating experience for the congregation.

Pastor describes terrifying moments before the crash

Speaking about the incident, Mdave said he heard a loud bang before seeing the bus apparently lift into the air as the collision unfolded.

He later realised that a trailer had struck the bus from behind and ended up in the nearby bush.

“I heard a loud bang and saw as if the bus toppled and flew, but later I saw a trailer in the bush that had hit us from behind,” he recounted.

The pastor explained that passengers seated at the back of the bus suffered the worst injuries, while those towards the front escaped with comparatively minor bruises.

Some of the survivors had already been discharged and returned home as others continued receiving medical attention.

However, surviving the crash did not spare Mdave from a heartbreaking personal loss. Four of his relatives died in the accident, leaving him and his family grappling with the tragedy.

24 people reported dead as injured passengers receive treatment

The death toll from the crash rose to 24 after another victim succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment.

According to information provided by Makueni County’s chief officer for medical services, Alex Makau, four of the injured passengers subsequently died in hospital.

Several survivors were taken to health facilities in Makueni and Kibwezi for emergency treatment.

Makau also confirmed that 11 patients were referred to Makindu, while two others were transferred to Coast General for further medical attention.

The referrals highlighted the pressure placed on local health facilities as medical teams worked to treat those injured in the collision.

Church members gather to mourn their colleagues

Back in Mombasa, members of the Power of the Word International Church gathered to pray and mourn the worshippers who died.

The tragedy left the congregation facing the difficult task of coming to terms with the loss of fellow church members, relatives and friends who had travelled together for a religious event.

For Mdave, the accident was particularly painful because he survived while losing four members of his extended family.

The incident also renewed concerns about the safety of passengers travelling on Kenya’s major highways, where collisions involving heavy commercial vehicles can have devastating consequences.

Fresh calls for action against road accidents

The Mtito Andei tragedy has added to growing calls for stronger measures to reduce road deaths across Kenya.

The National Transport and Safety Authority has previously pushed for road accidents to be declared a national disaster, citing the scale of fatalities and injuries associated with road crashes.

The figures cited in the original report indicate that Kenya experiences approximately 20,000 road crashes annually, with more than 5,000 people losing their lives each year.

Authorities have also highlighted the need for better road safety infrastructure, stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved training and supervision of drivers operating public service and commercial vehicles.

The Ministry of Roads has announced measures aimed at addressing the problem, including dedicated funding for road safety infrastructure and stronger action against dangerous driving.

The deadly collision near Mtito Andei has once again drawn attention to the human cost of road accidents, with families and communities left to mourn loved ones after an ordinary journey turned into a tragedy.

As survivors continue to recover and bereaved families come to terms with their losses, the incident serves as another reminder of the urgent need to improve safety on Kenya’s roads.