Irate residents in Juja, Kiambu County, set a 33-seater Lopha Sacco minibus ablaze on Sunday afternoon following a fatal accident on Thika Road. The driver reportedly lost control and struck a pedestrian, killing him on the spot, which sparked outrage among boda boda riders and locals. The incident disrupted traffic on the busy highway connecting Nairobi and Kiambu County.
The chaos unfolded along Thika Superhighway near Juja town when the public service vehicle (PSV), a 33-seater matatu headed towards Thika town, veered out of control and knocked down a person. According to reports, the victim died instantly at the scene, drawing immediate attention from nearby boda boda riders and residents.
Enraged, the crowd confronted the bus driver, attacking him before dousing the vehicle in fuel and setting it on fire. Footage circulating online captured the minibus fully engulfed in flames, with onlookers gathered at a safe distance as the fire raged. The bus was reduced to a metallic wreck, completely beyond repair, though no additional injuries were reported from the mob action itself.
The incident caused significant disruptions on the vital route linking Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) to Kiambu County, prompting motorists to divert to alternative paths. Police arrived shortly after to assess the damage and cordoned off the area, instructing residents to stay back while they secured the site.
This event highlights ongoing concerns about mob justice in Kenya, particularly involving boda boda operators who frequently resort to such extreme measures following road accidents. Just two months earlier, on September 1, a similar tragedy occurred in the same area when a Super Metro minibus struck a boda boda rider while swerving to avoid a tuk-tuk. Outraged riders then torched that vehicle as well. The company later issued a statement denying intent, describing the collision as unintentional and expressing condolences to the victim's family.