Six people were Saturday night confirmed dead after two PSV matatus collided head-on at Roka Mwembeni on the Mombasa Malindi highway.
Kilifi north Sub-county police commander Jonathan Koech confirmed the incident.
He said 17 other passengers sustained injuries and were taken to the Kilifi county referral hospital.
One of the Matatus was heading towards Kilifi while the other was being driven towards Malindi.
Kilifi county hospital medical superintendent Eddy Nzomo said 15 passengers sustained serious injuries and are admitted to the county referral hospital while two were treated and discharged.
Four people died on the spot while two, a woman and a six-month-old baby died while receiving treatment.
Nzomo called on the public to visit the hospital and donate blood.
So far, only two of the deceased have been identified.
Among those who perished in the accident is Sofia Dyeka, a vocal human rights and social justice defender in Kilifi County.
Sofia Dyeka from Kaloleni was in one of the matatus heading home from Malindi.
She was coming from a wedding.
On Friday, she was feted for her efforts to fight gender-based violence in Kilifi County.
She will be buried today according to Islamic rites.
The family suffered double tragedy after Sofia’s ailing maternal grandmother died on learning the death of her grandchild.
Koech urged drivers to avoid overspeeding.
Most PSV vehicles plying the route have tampered speed governors, he said.
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi mourned the victims of the accident.
He urged motorists to be extra cautious and adhere to traffic rules and regulations to avoid road accidents and loss of lives.
“I send my deepest condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones following the tragic accident at Roka, Matsangoni Ward, this evening. I also wish the survivors a speedy recovery and applaud the general public for moving in swiftly and helping with the rescue operation,” said Kingi.
In April this year, 15 people died when two buses collided head-on on the same road.
