Traffic Chaos on Northern Bypass After Super Metro Bus Crashes Into Matatu Near Kahawa West
Motorists using Nairobi’s busy Northern Bypass were left stranded for hours on Tuesday morning after a Super Metro bus collided with a 14-seater matatu near the Kahawa West underpass, triggering a massive traffic snarl-up.
The accident, which happened during peak morning traffic, reportedly caused the Super Metro bus to overturn onto its side, blocking a major section of the road and bringing movement to a near standstill.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and confusion moments after the collision, with passengers scrambling to safety as emergency responders rushed to the scene.
“A Super Metro bus has fallen on its side, blocking the entire road at the Northern Bypass underpass on its way to town from Kahawa West. The traffic jam is massive,” one witness said.
Images and videos circulating online showed long queues of vehicles stretching across both sides of the bypass as frustrated motorists remained trapped in the gridlock.
Police officers from the Kahawa West traffic department, alongside emergency rescue teams, quickly arrived to control traffic and assist passengers involved in the crash.
Authorities had not confirmed the number of casualties or injuries by the time of publication, but witnesses claimed several passengers sustained injuries during the impact.
The crash forced many motorists to divert through nearby estates and feeder roads in a desperate attempt to escape the congestion, with traffic disruption spreading to adjoining routes around Kahawa West and Zimmerman.
The incident once again highlights growing concerns over road safety in Kenya following a series of fatal crashes reported across the country in recent days.
On Monday, four people lost their lives while seven others were injured after a Nairobi-bound bus travelling from Moyale overturned along the Karatina-Nanyuki Highway in Kieni East, Nyeri County.
Police said the bus is suspected to have suffered a front tyre burst before losing control and rolling several times.
The injured passengers were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to Naromoru Level 4 Hospital mortuary pending identification.
According to data released by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), at least 1,189 people have died in road accidents between January and April this year.
During the same period, 7,198 people were involved in crashes nationwide, with 3,316 sustaining serious injuries while another 2,693 suffered minor injuries.
Motorists have since been advised to avoid the Northern Bypass section near Kahawa West until clearance operations are completed.
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