NAIROBI, Kenya — Motorists using Nairobi’s Northern Bypass experienced major traffic disruption on Tuesday morning after a Super Metro bus collided with a 14-seater matatu near the Kahawa West underpass and overturned, blocking part of the busy highway.
The accident occurred along the stretch heading towards Kahawa West during peak morning traffic, triggering a massive snarl-up that left hundreds of commuters stranded for hours.
Witnesses at the scene said the collision caused the Super Metro bus to lose control before toppling onto its side, obstructing a large section of the carriageway.
“A Super Metro bus has fallen on its side, blocking the entire road at the Northern Bypass underpass on its way to town from Kahawa West. Traffic jam is massive,” one witness said.
Photos and videos shared online showed long queues of vehicles building up on both sides of the bypass as emergency teams rushed to the scene to manage the situation.
Officers from the Kahawa West traffic base, alongside emergency response personnel, arrived shortly after the crash to assist passengers, control traffic, and oversee rescue operations.
Authorities have not officially confirmed the number of passengers injured or whether any fatalities have been recorded.
However, witnesses described scenes of panic as passengers and motorists scrambled to safety moments after the collision.
Motorists were advised to avoid the affected route and seek alternative roads through neighbouring estates as clearance operations continued.
The accident once again highlighted growing concerns over road safety and traffic management in Nairobi, particularly along major bypasses that experience heavy commuter and public transport traffic daily.
The latest incident comes amid a worrying rise in road crashes across the country.
On Monday, four people died while seven others sustained injuries after a Nairobi-to-Moyale bus reportedly suffered a tyre burst before overturning several times along the Karatina-Nanyuki Highway in Kieni East, Nyeri County.
Police said the victims were rushed to nearby hospitals while the bodies of those killed were moved to Naromoru Level 4 Hospital mortuary.
According to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority, at least 1,189 people died in road accidents between January and April this year.
During the same period, 7,198 people were involved in various crashes nationwide. Of those, 3,316 sustained serious injuries, while 2,693 suffered minor injuries.
Road safety experts have continued to attribute many crashes to speeding, reckless driving, poor road discipline, mechanical failure, and inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations.
