Thursday, January 23, was marked by incidents of conflict and tragedy along Kenyan roads, highlighting a mix of impatience, rage, and fatal accidents.
In Kajiado County, a licensed gun holder was disarmed and arrested after a dramatic confrontation with county officials at a roadblock along the Kajiado-Namanga highway. The altercation began when the man, reportedly frustrated by the cess collection roadblock at Isinya, drew his pistol and fired shots into the air and ground, demanding the barrier be opened for him. Instead of yielding, the officials reinforced the barrier and called the police, who apprehended the man. Authorities confirmed that he will face charges for misusing his firearm.
Meanwhile, in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area, a road rage incident turned violent, leaving a matatu driver seriously injured. The confrontation occurred on Wednesday night, January 22, along Yussuf Haji Avenue, when a matatu driver overlapped and blocked the road. A motorist in a saloon car, angered by the obstruction, confronted the driver. The altercation escalated into violence when the motorist retrieved a panga and slashed the matatu driver, inflicting deep cuts.
The motorist attempted to flee but was pursued by bodaboda riders and apprehended near BBS Mall on General Waruinge Road. Police intervened, rescuing him from an angry mob and taking him into custody for further investigation. The matatu driver, in critical condition, was rushed to MSF Hospital and later referred to Kenyatta National Hospital.
Elsewhere, in Nyeri County, a bodaboda rider tragically lost his life in an accident along the Nyaribo-Kimathi road. The collision with an oncoming lorry resulted in severe injuries, including head trauma and multiple fractures, leading to the rider’s instant death. Two loaders aboard the lorry sustained minor injuries. The body of the rider was taken to Nyeri County Referral Hospital for an autopsy, while both the motorcycle and lorry were impounded for inspection.
These incidents underscore the growing concerns over road rage, firearm misuse, and road safety in Kenya. Police have reiterated the importance of resolving conflicts amicably and maintaining caution on the roads to prevent such tragic outcomes.
