An oncoming truck struck the group head-on as they were traveling along the notorious Nairobi–Mombasa highway.

The two men were killed instantly while their wives were left in critical condition, one with life-threatening injuries.

A police statement said: “The driver was operating a tourist van, a Toyota Land Cruiser, traveling from Diani toward Nairobi.

“It then collided head-on with a Mercedes Actros, driven by an unidentified driver coming from the opposite direction.”

The Nairobi–Mombasa highway is notorious for being one of the most dangerous in the world, with November of this year seeing 4,282 fatalities alone.

Police say they have now launched a hunt for the driver after he fled the scene.