A popular matatu that plies the Kasarani – Nairobi route and which was previously reported swaying dangerously along Thika Road, crashed on Sunday evening 11th May, in Dedan Kimathi Ward, Tetu Constituency, Nyeri County, injuring 22 people.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, 18 passengers sustained minor injuries while four were reported in critical condition.
All casualties were rushed to the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital for treatment.
Emergency response teams from the Red Cross provided psychosocial support to those affected and facilitated family tracing efforts at the accident scene.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but the earlier reports of the matatu’s erratic behaviour on Thika Road have raised questions about oversight and enforcement on public service vehicles.
Citizens on Uppercut Matatu
The matatu had gained notoriety for its dangerous stunts and erratic movement on Thika highway a concern raised earlier by road users.
“This is what happens when authorities fail to act,” one user posted on X. “Let them learn the hard way if police and NTSA can’t proactively stop this madness of such matatus swaying on roads, while chaps are dancing and hanging dangerously in/on them.”
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Another user echoed public frustration, “These ugly ones are driven so recklessly, I don’t understand why passengers agree to even board the death traps.”
“We have complained about this before,” a user wrote, referring to the viral Matatu Challenge on TikTok. “The Matatu Challenge also needs to be performed with utmost safety. Vehicles are not humans. Matatus don’t have sensors to detect so can easily crash on dancers.”
Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the cause of the crash or whether any arrests have been made.
Road Accidents Deaths
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) released figures detailing the number of road accident fatalities recorded in the first three months of 2025.
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According to the report, 5,856 people were involved in road crashes between January 1 and March 31, marking a decrease of 1,908 cases compared to the same period in 2024.
Of those involved, 1,139 people lost their lives, a slight drop from the 1,166 fatalities recorded during the same period last year.
Another 3,316 individuals sustained serious injuries, while 2,693 suffered minor injuries.
189 passengers died in various crashes during the period, while 83 drivers lost their lives — both figures lower than the 243 passengers and 94 drivers killed in the same period last year.
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