Heavy traffic was experienced on Thika Superhighway on Tuesday morning, August 26, 2025, after a passenger bus overturned near Safari Park Hotel. The incident, which occurred as the bus headed towards Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), forced motorists to divert through service lanes and nearby estates, creating major congestion during the morning rush hour.
The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, but images from the scene showed the bus lying on its right side atop the highway barricades. Passengers on board sustained light injuries and were left shaken. Emergency responders, including traffic police and medical personnel, rushed to the scene to evacuate those affected and provide first aid. Several ambulances were dispatched to ensure injured passengers received prompt medical attention.
The overturned bus completely blocked sections of the busy highway, forcing drivers to seek alternative routes through residential neighborhoods. This diversion worsened the traffic snarl-up, with many commuters taking to social media to warn others and express frustration over the unexpected delays. For residents in estates adjoining Thika Road, the increased traffic flow created further gridlock on roads not designed to handle such volumes of vehicles.
A recovery lorry was later deployed to remove the bus from the road, as authorities worked to restore the normal flow of traffic. Police have yet to release an official report on the number of passengers affected or the underlying cause of the crash. Investigations are ongoing, with experts expected to analyze whether speeding, mechanical failure, or driver error played a role.
The accident comes at a particularly busy time, as schools across the country reopen for the third term. This has already placed additional pressure on Nairobi’s major roads, especially Thika Superhighway, which serves thousands of daily commuters.
August has been especially deadly on Kenya’s roads. Nationwide, traffic accidents and related incidents have claimed dozens of lives in recent weeks. According to official data, 2,933 people lost their lives in road accidents between January 1 and August 10, 2025. Alarmingly, 80 fatalities were recorded within just four days in early August, prompting emergency safety audits and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations.
Authorities continue to urge motorists to exercise caution, observe speed limits, and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy as the country battles to reduce the rising toll of road carnage.
