LUANDA, Kenya – Chaos broke out in Luanda town, Vihiga County, on Saturday after a bodaboda rider was killed in a road accident along the Kisumu–Busia highway.
The rider died on the spot after being knocked down by a 14-seater matatu mid-morning, sparking outrage among fellow operators and residents.
Eyewitnesses said the incident angered locals, who quickly descended on the matatu and set it ablaze.
The highway was barricaded with stones and burning tyres as protesters demanded justice for the deceased.
In the ensuing melee, a Vihiga County Government fire engine responding to the scene lost control and overturned in a ditch.
Videos shared online showed the vehicle tilted on its side as residents milled around.
Luanda Town was thrown into chaos after a boda boda rider lost his life in a collision with a 14-seater matatu. Outraged riders retaliated, setting the vehicle on fire and leaving it in ruins.
The situation escalated further when residents looted a trailer transporting crates of soda towards Kisumu.
Police officers were deployed to contain the chaos, but boda boda riders accused them of laxity and alleged the matatu driver had intentionally knocked down their colleague.
Images and videos of the fiery protest have since gone viral, attracting mixed reactions.
While some Kenyans online condemned the boda boda riders for taking the law into their own hands, others criticised the police for failing to swiftly manage the unrest.
Authorities in Vihiga are yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
