Mombasa records 15% drop in road crashes and serious injuries in 2025

The report identifies the Mombasa–Nairobi Road, Mombasa–Malindi Road, Makupa Causeway, Likoni–Ukunda Road and Port Reitz–Airport Road as the five leading fatal crash corridors in the county.

Two- and three-wheeler users accounted for 44 per cent of all reported road traffic deaths, while pedestrians represented 37 per cent.

Men accounted for 86 per cent of reported fatalities, with people aged between 30 and 39 years frequently affected by deaths and serious injuries.

Speaking during the launch, Mombasa Deputy Governor Francis Thoya said the reduction represented encouraging progress in the county’s efforts to prevent road deaths and injuries.

“Sustaining this progress will require renewed commitment from all stakeholders. I urge the National Police Service, NTSA, county departments and development partners to mobilise resources and strengthen road safety measures,” Thoya said.

The report further shows that Saturdays recorded the highest number of road deaths, with fatalities frequently linked to crashes occurring between 4 am and 6 am and 8 pm and 10 pm.

Mombasa County Traffic Commander  Antony Nyongesa said the findings would help authorities use evidence to guide enforcement, public awareness campaigns and infrastructure improvements.

“This report is an invaluable resource for guiding evidence-based enforcement and strengthening our collective response to road safety challenges,” Nyongesa said.

He added that enforcement alone would not be sufficient to achieve sustainable improvements in road safety.

“There is a need for safer road engineering, public education, informed planning and stronger partnerships,” Nyongesa added.

Vital Strategies Regional Technical Advisor for Africa on Road Injury Surveillance, Dr Raphael Awuah, said the report provides critical evidence on crash patterns, vulnerable road users and high-risk locations, which can be used to inform targeted interventions.

Awuah said the decline in fatalities and serious injuries was significant, noting that it was the first time police data in Mombasa had recorded such a reduction.

“This is important because one life saved is very important. This is the first time we are recording a reduction in the number of fatalities and injuries from police data in Mombasa. A lot of work has been done, and we must sustain the gradual reduction in these cases,” he said.

A recent post-campaign survey cited speeding as the leading perceived cause of crashes, with 84 per cent of respondents identifying it as a major factor.

The survey also found that 77 per cent of respondents supported a 30 km/h speed limit in residential areas, while 71 per cent supported lower speed limits near pedestrian areas.

Despite the reported decline, 84 people lost their lives on Mombasa roads in 2025.

The report cautions that a one-year reduction should not necessarily be interpreted as a sustained trend, with continued monitoring and consistent data collection required to establish whether the gains can be maintained.

Mombasa County Executive Committee Member for Transport Dan Manyala attributed the progress to collaboration between the county government, the national government and other road safety stakeholders.

“Together with KeNHA and KURA, we have started engineering afresh different roads in our county where we have been experiencing crashes. Some have been a testimony, like Koinange Street in Tudor, which has more than five schools. Since then, we have reduced the number of accidents to zero,” Manyala said.