Police are investigating an incident in which a matatu was set on fire on Wednesday after it fatally struck a boda boda rider at the Gitaru Interchange in Kikuyu, Kiambu County.
According to authorities, the 14-seater matatu hit and killed a 22-year-old boda boda rider who was delivering a carpet.
Witnesses said the vehicle was making a turn at an unsafe spot when the collision occurred, sparking outrage among fellow riders.
In response, boda boda operators blocked the busy Nairobi–Nakuru highway for a period before setting the matatu ablaze, drawing large crowds and causing major traffic delays.
The matatu driver reportedly fled the scene for his safety.
Police later arrived, removed the rider’s body to the mortuary pending an autopsy, and towed the wrecked matatu to the local police station.
Authorities confirmed they are investigating the incident.
This event is the latest in a series of similar cases, with boda boda riders increasingly accused of taking the law into their own hands following fatal accidents.
Recent incidents in Salgaa and Nairobi’s Embakasi area have seen buses and minibuses torched under similar circumstances.
There are growing calls for stricter laws to regulate the boda boda sector, despite resistance from some operators.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!