Kenya Prisons Service Mourns SSP Alex Kazungu Mbitha, Officer in Charge of Mombasa Remand Prison
The Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) has announced the death of SSP Alex Kazungu Mbitha, Senior Superintendent of Prisons and Officer in Charge of Mombasa Remand Prison, following a fatal road accident along the Mombasa–Nairobi highway near Konza, Machakos County.
In a statement, Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick M. Aranduh, CBS, extended his condolences on behalf of the entire KPS fraternity to SSP Kazungu’s family, relatives, and colleagues, describing the loss as deeply painful for the Service and, in particular, for the Mombasa Remand Prison fraternity he led.
What Happened
According to family and community accounts, SSP Kazungu was travelling with his wife and children from Mombasa towards Nairobi, where one of his daughters was expected to report for admission at Kenyatta University.
An official accident report from Salama Traffic Base (IAR No. 54/2026) states that the crash occurred at around 3:30 a.m. on 25 August 2026 along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway at Konza. SSP Kazungu was driving a Mitsubishi Mirage towards Nairobi with family members on board when an oncoming Beiben truck heading to Mombasa allegedly veered out of its lane and collided sideways with his vehicle.
SSP Kazungu died at the scene, as did one of his daughters. Other family members travelling with them, including his wife, sustained injuries and were rushed to Machakos Referral Hospital for treatment. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we are not detailing the specific injuries or identities of the surviving family members, several of whom are minors.
Both vehicles were towed to Salama Police Station as police continue investigations into the crash.
Remembered as an Officer and a Man of Faith
Beyond his role in the Prisons Service, SSP Kazungu is remembered by many as a committed evangelist, having previously served as Officer Commanding at Shimo la Tewa Maximum Security Prison in Mombasa before his posting to Mombasa Remand Prison. Friends and community members describe him as a man devoted both to his duties in uniform and to his faith community.
The news has been met with an outpouring of grief from colleagues, friends, and members of the public, many of whom have shared condolence messages online in the wake of the announcement.
A Family and Community in Mourning
The bodies of SSP Kazungu and his daughter are preserved at Machakos Referral Hospital pending postmortem examination, as the family makes arrangements to transport their remains to the Coast for burial. Well-wishers have asked for prayers for the surviving family members who remain in hospital.
The Commissioner General urged the family and colleagues to draw strength from the memory of SSP Kazungu’s years of service and contribution to the Kenya Prisons Service.
“May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Editor’s note: Details of this accident are drawn from an official police accident report (Salama Traffic Base, IAR No. 54/2026) and from family/community accounts shared publicly. Where the two sources differ — such as which family member was travelling for university admission — we have presented both without asserting a single version as confirmed. We will update this article if further official clarification becomes available.
