A bus carrying over 40 passengers overturned on the Thika Superhighway on Tuesday morning, causing an early traffic snarl-up on the busy road.
Passengers on board, who were heading to various destinations, sustained light injuries and were left in shock after the incident, which triggered a massive traffic jam.
The accident occurred just past Safari Park Hotel as the bus was heading to Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).
Although the exact cause of the crash remains unclear, images seen by Kenyans.co.ke showed the vehicle lying on its right side, atop the highway's barricades.
Footage also showed passengers being assisted to exit the bus as traffic police cordoned off the scene.
Ambulances and officials from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) were also present, with injured passengers receiving treatment at the scene.
Motorists were forced to divert to the service lane as officers worked to provide alternative routes and ease the gridlock.
Despite the efforts, the incident caused a massive traffic jam, leaving motorists heading to the city stranded.
Many took to social media to voice their frustrations, while others warned fellow users of the busy highway about the accident.
The jam was further compounded after authorities cut off traffic flow to remove the overturned bus. A recovery lorry was deployed to haul the vehicle off the road and restore normal traffic.
The accident came at a time when most schools across the country are reopening for the third and final term of the school calendar, bringing further confusion to the situation.
It also comes after an evening accident on Saturday, August 23, involving a matatu and a cargo container in Kibarani on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway left 15 injured.
Rescue teams from the Kenya Red Cross and other agencies quickly responded to the scene, and the injured were rushed to various health facilities by well-wishers.
Other reports revealed that of the injured, five were in critical condition. The matatu reportedly had 13 passengers on board, and the other eight suffered minor injuries.
