A matatu belonging to Super Metro Sacco was set ablaze by angry boda-boda riders on Monday evening after it allegedly hit and killed a motorcyclist along Thika Superhighway near Juja Town. The incident caused a major traffic disruption on one of Nairobi’s busiest highways.
According to police reports, the matatu was racing toward the city centre when it collided with a rider, who died on the spot. Following the accident, the driver stopped the vehicle, and passengers quickly disembarked as a crowd of fellow riders gathered at the scene. Tempers flared, and the riders reportedly turned rowdy, attacking the bus and ultimately setting it on fire. The vehicle was completely destroyed beyond repair.
Police officers arrived at the scene minutes later and found the matatu engulfed in flames. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities have promised to take appropriate action once the facts are established. Meanwhile, the deceased rider’s body was transported to the mortuary pending an autopsy, while the charred wreckage was taken to the local police station.
This is not the first time such a violent reaction has occurred following a traffic fatality in Nairobi. Last month, a similar incident took place in the Donholm area after a bus knocked down and killed a rider. In that case, a mob attacked the bus and set it on fire, leaving the passengers and crew to escape unharmed. Police arrived at the scene to find the vehicle destroyed, but the mob had already dispersed.
The recurrence of such incidents has raised concerns about road safety and the aggressive responses from boda-boda riders following accidents. Authorities have called for calm and stressed the importance of allowing law enforcement to handle accident investigations rather than taking the law into their own hands.
As investigations continue, the community and commuters along Thika Superhighway are urged to exercise caution, particularly in areas prone to heavy traffic and frequent accidents. Police have appealed to the public to report incidents responsibly and avoid acts of vigilantism that can escalate violence and endanger lives.
