A passenger bus carrying more than 40 people tipped onto its side this morning just past Safari Park Hotel, along Thika Superhighway. The crash sparked a massive traffic jam that paralyzed the main route into the city.
A Jolt to the Morning Rush
The overturned vehicle lay on its right flank atop the central barrier. Passengers, many in shock, escaped with light injuries. First responders including ambulances and officers from the Kenya National Highways Authority were quickly on the scene. Traffic police cordoned off the area and rerouted drivers onto the service lanes.
Despite efforts to restore flow, congestion persisted. A recovery lorry was dispatched to remove the bus, but delay was unavoidable. The timing was especially disruptive: schools are reopening for their final term, adding strain to already busy roads.
Relief in Quick Response
Medical teams tended to passengers’ injuries at the scene. Those seriously affected received attention from ambulance crews, while others walked away with only minor wounds.
Officials from KeNHA managed the site swiftly, coordinating with police to reopen lanes as soon as possible. Still, the delay lingered for hours, affecting traffic into Nairobi’s CBD.
A Closer Look at the Scene
The overturned bus rested awkwardly atop the highway’s central barrier. Eyewitnesses described passengers being helped out amid the lingering chaos. Emergency teams worked methodically, protecting both the injured and pounding traffic.
Under Strain: Schools, Roads and Planning
This incident comes as schools across Kenya begin their third term, a period that strains transport networks. Added to this, just days earlier on 23 August, a matatu collided with a freight container on the Mombasa–Nairobi Highway. That crash injured 15 people and added to public unease around road safety.
Official Statement
Details on why the bus overturned remain unclear. Early reports offer no firm cause whether mechanical failure, driver error, or road conditions. Local authorities have yet to speak publicly on this.
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