Matatu overturns along Enterprise Road
Several people sustained injuries on Wednesday night after a 32-seater matatu overturned along Enterprise Road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving emergency responders and members of the public.
The accident occurred near Nairobi Prison after the driver of the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) reportedly lost control, causing the matatu to overturn and leave several passengers trapped beneath the wreckage.
Witnesses at the scene alleged that the vehicle had been speeding and weaving through traffic moments before the crash. Some also claimed that several passengers were hanging onto the outside of the matatu as it moved along the busy roadway.
According to eyewitnesses, some of those injured may have been among the passengers who were clinging to the vehicle during the alleged reckless driving that preceded the accident.
Emergency teams from the Kenya Red Cross were quickly deployed to the scene to provide first aid and assist in evacuating the injured.
“A mass casualty road traffic incident involving an overturned PSV has occurred along Enterprise Road in Industrial Area, opposite Nairobi Prison. Kenya Red Cross emergency response teams are on the scene providing first aid and evacuation support to those affected,” the organisation said in a statement.
Authorities had not immediately confirmed the number of passengers on board at the time of the crash. However, some witnesses suspected the matatu may have been carrying more passengers than its approved capacity.
By Thursday morning, police had launched investigations into the incident to establish the exact cause of the crash and determine whether any traffic regulations had been breached.
The accident has once again raised concerns about road safety and reckless driving among public service vehicles, with speeding, overloading and dangerous driving continuing to pose challenges on Nairobi roads.
The incident comes only days after another major accident near the Ole Sereni section of the Nairobi Expressway, where a Mercedes-Benz caught fire after losing control and crashing into roadside barriers.
CCTV footage from that incident showed the luxury vehicle veering out of its lane before colliding with a guardrail and a concrete pillar, triggering a fire that engulfed the car within moments.
Preliminary assessments of the footage suggested the Mercedes-Benz may have been hit from behind by another vehicle while changing lanes, causing the driver to lose control. The second vehicle briefly swerved into a merging lane before regaining control and continuing its journey.
Authorities are expected to issue further updates on the Enterprise Road accident as investigations progress and more information emerges regarding the condition of those injured.
