Tragedy in Githurai: Several Feared Dead After Matatu Ploughs Into Roadside Vendors
A tragic road accident at Githurai 45 on Wednesday morning has left several people feared dead and many others injured after a matatu lost control and rammed into roadside hawkers along the busy Thika Super Highway.
Eyewitnesses say the accident occurred after the matatu, which was traveling from Roysambu towards Githurai 45, hit a bump at high speed near the Githurai roundabout. The vehicle reportedly veered off the road and crashed into traders operating on the roadside, instantly causing panic and chaos.
While the official number of casualties is yet to be confirmed, preliminary reports suggest between five to nine people may have lost their lives, either on the spot or while being rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency care. Several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Footage from the scene showed the mangled wreckage of the matatu, scattered personal belongings, the remains of at least two motorcycles, and a crowd of shocked bystanders watching emergency personnel and police conduct rescue operations.
According to initial investigations, the driver may have been trying to avoid a minor collision between a pickup and a motorcycle when the accident occurred. Other unverified reports suggest the matatu’s brakes might have failed, contributing to the tragic outcome.
The Githurai roundabout is a well-known hub of activity, with hawkers, public transport vehicles, and thousands of commuters crisscrossing the area daily. The unregulated setup, combined with poor traffic enforcement, has often been cited as a potential hazard to both motorists and pedestrians.
In the wake of the accident, the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) and other relevant agencies are under public pressure to act. Netizens flooded social media with messages of grief, calls for stricter traffic safety measures, and demands to regulate trading activities on busy highways.
Transport along the route was severely disrupted, with police advising motorists to avoid the underpass as it remained impassable during rescue operations.
As investigations continue, questions linger over how many more lives must be lost before lasting safety reforms are implemented on Kenya’s busiest highways.
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Tragedy in Githurai: Several Feared Dead After Matatu Ploughs Into Roadside Vendors