Chaos in Vihiga as Boda Boda Riders Torch Matatu After Fatal Crash

Chaos in Vihiga as Boda Boda Riders Torch Matatu After Fatal Crash

Tension gripped Vihiga County on Saturday morning after irate boda boda riders set a matatu ablaze along the Kisumu-Busia highway.

The violence erupted near Luanda market after a 14-seater matatu reportedly lost control and ran over a motorbike rider. The young rider died instantly, sparking outrage.

“We lost one of our own in a reckless accident,” one rider shouted.

Riders Attack Driver and Torch Vehicle

Immediately after the crash, boda boda operators stormed the scene. They cornered the matatu driver and pelted the vehicle with stones. Moments later, the vehicle went up in flames as the crowd cheered.

“We could not just watch and do nothing,” another rider claimed angrily.

Videos circulated online showed thick smoke billowing as residents stood at a distance, recording the unfolding chaos.

Highway Blocked, Transport Paralyzed

As tempers flared, the enraged operators barricaded the busy Kisumu-Busia highway. The action brought transport to a standstill, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

“This is the main road to Uganda, yet it was turned into a war zone,” a trader lamented.

Fire Engine Attacked, Overturns

The Vihiga County Government dispatched a fire engine to contain the blaze. However, the riders also attacked the vehicle, forcing the crew to retreat.

In the chaos, the fire engine overturned while attempting to negotiate a sharp corner. Luckily, no firefighter sustained serious injuries.

Images later showed the engine lying on its side as crowds rushed to loot a passing trailer loaded with soda bottles heading to Kisumu city.

Police Intervention and Public Reactions

Police officers tried to restore calm, but the riders stood their ground. They accused the matatu driver of intentionally knocking down their colleague.

“He killed our brother deliberately,” one boda operator alleged.

Kenyans online expressed mixed reactions. Some condemned the riders for taking the law into their own hands. Others blamed police for failing to respond quickly enough.

“This is pure lawlessness,” one user commented.
“Police negligence is the bigger issue here,” another replied.

Similar Incident in Nairobi

This comes just days after another tragic incident in Nairobi. On Monday, September 1, a Super Metro bus was torched along Thika Superhighway after running over a boda rider. The bus was destroyed beyond repair, though all passengers escaped unharmed.

The twin tragedies have now reignited debate on the tense relationship between boda boda riders and PSV operators across Kenya.

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Chaos in Vihiga as Boda Boda Riders Torch Matatu After Fatal Crash