Rage on Thika Road: Police launch probe after mob burns 33-seater bus in Juja

A 33-seater minibus on fire along Thika Road near Juja town on November 2, 2025./HANDOUT

Police in Kiambu County have launched investigations into a violent incident in Juja on Sunday afternoon, where an angry mob torched a 33-seater matatu after it fatally hit a pedestrian along Thika Road.

According to witnesses, the matatu driver lost control near Juja town, striking a pedestrian who died instantly. Moments later, irate residents and boda boda riders surrounded the vehicle, pulled out the driver, and set the matatu ablaze.

“The crowd was furious. They accused the driver of speeding and ignoring traffic rules,” said one eyewitness, who added that police arrived too late to save the vehicle.

Police also confirmed the incident, saying the passengers who were on board escaped for their safety and no one was injured. 

Videos shared on social media showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the burning matatu as stunned onlookers watched from a distance. Firefighters were later called to extinguish the flames, but the vehicle was completely destroyed.

The incident caused a major traffic snarl-up on the busy Nairobi–Thika highway, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. Police officers from Juja Police Station cordoned off the area and began recording statements from witnesses as part of their investigation.

While no further injuries were reported, authorities described the damage as extensive. Police confirmed that the driver escaped with minor injuries and was taken into custody for questioning.

The latest episode has reignited debate over the rise of mob justice in Kenya, particularly in cases involving road accidents.

A 33-seater minibus on fire along Thika Road near Juja town on November 2, 2025. /HANDOUT

Civil rights groups and transport sector unions have repeatedly condemned such incidents, saying they undermine justice and put more lives at risk.

“This kind of lawlessness only leads to more tragedy,” said a Kiambu County police commander.

“We urge the public to remain calm and allow legal processes to determine responsibility in such cases.”

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) recently condemned the attacks, reminding the public that taking the law into their own hands is a criminal offense.

The agency urged drivers and pedestrians alike to exercise caution, noting that Kiambu remains one of the counties with the highest number of road accidents in the country.

A firefighter at the scene of the 33-seater minibus on fire along Thika Road near Juja town on November 2, 2025. /HANDOUT

The incident has since raised concerns over a trend where residents, particularly boda boda riders, resort to mob violence, including burning vehicles after accidents. In a similar situation two months ago, a minibus belonging to Super Metro was set ablaze along the Thika Superhighway in Juja, Kiambu County, after it ran over a boda rider.

The incident took place on September 1, 2025, after the Super Metro bus knocked a resident while attempting to swerve in an effort to avoid a collision with a tuk-tuk. It attracted outrage from boda boda riders, who confronted the bus driver before setting the vehicle on fire.

Super Metro termed the incident as unintentional, as alleged by the boda riders, and it further expressed remorse to the victim's family. Last month similar incidents happened in Nairobi, where two buses were burnt following accidents involving boda bodas.

There are calls to regulate the boda boda industry out of the incidents, with many blaming indiscipline for the same.