Senior prison officer, daughter die in Konza road rash

A senior prison officer and his teenage daughter tragically lost their lives in a collision on the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway near Konza on Tuesday morning. The accident occurred around 3:30 am when a Beiben truck, driven by a 52-year-old driver, reportedly veered out of its lane and struck a Mitsubishi Mirage traveling in the opposite direction.

The Mitsubishi was being operated by Senior Superintendent of Prisons Alex Kazungu Mbitha, 45, who was stationed at Mombasa Remand Prison. Both Mbitha and his 14-year-old daughter, Claire Heri, were fatally injured and succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Three other passengers in the Mitsubishi sustained injuries, while Mbitha's wife experienced a head wound, a 15-year-old boy complained of chest pains, and Mbitha's son, aged 23, suffered a head injury.

The injured survivors were transported to Machakos Referral Hospital for medical attention. The police at Salama Traffic Base arrived at the scene, documenting the incident and subsequently towing both vehicles to Salama Police Station for further examination. The collision is believed to have been caused by the Beiben driver's failure to remain in his designated lane, though a comprehensive investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the fatal side-impact crash.

This incident underscores ongoing concerns about road safety along the bustling Nairobi–Mombasa Highway, particularly during the late-night and early-morning hours when visibility and driver fatigue can heighten the risk of severe accidents.