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Boda Boda Riders Set 65-Seater Bus Ablaze After Fatal Salgaa Accident

A Uganda-bound passenger coach was destroyed by fire on Sunday evening following a deadly collision that claimed two lives along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway in Salgaa.

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The incident unfolded after the large capacity vehicle, carrying passengers toward Kampala, collided with a motorcycle carrying two riders. Both victims died at the scene of impact.

Witnesses reported that motorcycle taxi operators quickly converged at the accident site. The situation escalated rapidly as the crowd turned violent, first confronting the coach driver before proceeding to set the vehicle alight.

The burning of the coach brought traffic to a standstill along one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors. Motorists were forced to find alternate routes as the situation unfolded. While the vehicle was completely destroyed, leaving only a charred frame, no additional casualties were reported from the subsequent fire.

Video recordings circulated on social platforms captured the coach consumed by intense flames while onlookers maintained distance from the burning wreckage. Additional footage revealed extensive traffic congestion as law enforcement officers arrived to manage the growing backlog of vehicles.

The Motorists Association of Kenya issued a statement denouncing the destruction of property. The organization called upon police authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for the arson.

This latest episode has reignited debate about the pattern of vigilante responses by motorcycle taxi operators following road accidents. Such incidents have become increasingly common, with similar cases reported in recent months across different parts of the country.

Last month, a smaller passenger vehicle met a similar fate in Juja, Kiambu County, after its driver was involved in a fatal collision along Thika Road. That incident also resulted in the vehicle being set on fire by an angry mob, disrupting traffic along the major route connecting Nairobi and surrounding areas.

Authorities continue to grapple with how to address the trend of mob violence and property destruction following traffic accidents, particularly those involving motorcycle taxi operators who often respond collectively to incidents affecting their colleagues.

The National Police Service has not yet issued an official statement regarding Sunday’s incident or announced any arrests in connection with the vehicle’s destruction.