A dramatic scene unfolded on the Thika Superhighway after boda boda riders set a vehicle ablaze following a fatal road accident near Kenyatta University. The incident, which briefly disrupted traffic flow, has raised fresh concerns over rising mob justice on Kenyan roads.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident involved an Audi A3 hatchback, reportedly owned by a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer. The vehicle allegedly knocked down a rider and his passenger. While the passenger sustained injuries, the rider died on the spot.
Enraged colleagues of the deceased rushed to the scene, protesting the loss of life. In a violent turn, they doused the Audi with fuel and set it on fire. Flames and smoke billowed from the vehicle as its owner stood helplessly watching it burn to ashes.
Firefighters from Ruiru arrived shortly after but were unable to salvage the vehicle, which had already been destroyed completely. The fiery protest sparked panic among motorists and pedestrians, causing temporary traffic disruptions along the busy highway.
This is not an isolated incident. In Thika’s Makongeni area earlier this month, an angry mob torched another private car after an accident near the local police station. In a separate case in Luanda, Vihiga County, boda boda riders set a 14-seater matatu on fire after it ran over and killed one of their colleagues along the Kisumu-Busia highway.
The trend of violent retaliation highlights growing tensions between motorists and boda boda operators, who often feel targeted and neglected in road safety matters. While authorities have condemned such acts of mob justice, enforcement remains a challenge.
Police have since launched investigations into the Thika incident, even as calls mount for stricter regulation of the boda boda sector and improved road safety measures to curb the rising cases of violent protests.
