Residents of Ongata Rongai have expressed growing concern over a notorious blackspot along Magadi Road that has become a scene of recurring accidents, leading to serious injuries and property damage.
The section, located just after Multimedia University on the border between Nairobi and Kajiado counties, has been described as a death trap due to a deep ditch on the roadside that has trapped several vehicles over the years.
The area is sloped and has a turn, with the Mbagathi River crossing the road at this particular section. Over the last two months, at least three cars have been reported to have toppled on the left-hand side, narrowly escaping.
The latest incident occurred on Sunday evening when a 14-seater matatu and a private car plunged into the ditch after what witnesses described as the vehicles losing control in the area. The matatu was carrying passengers heading toward Rongai town when the accident happened.
Eyewitnesses said the matatu driver appeared to lose control after swerving to avoid the private car, causing both vehicles to crash into the ditch.
Several passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to Sinai Hospital with the help of emergency responders and officers from Rongai Police Station, while both vehicles were extensively damaged due to the impact of the fall.
Residents who rushed to the scene reported that instead of assisting in rescue efforts, a few individuals were spotted stealing valuables from the victims.
Frequent accidents at the spot have become a major concern for the community, with motorists and residents complaining that despite repeated accidents, no lasting solution has been implemented to improve road safety in the area. They blame poor road design and inadequate signage as key contributors to the deadly pattern.
In August this year, a similar accident caused a major traffic snarl-up after a passenger bus plunged into a ditch near the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) bus stop. The bus, which was overlapping, reportedly lost control and overturned, though no fatalities were reported.
Further, in September last year, eight people died after a 32-seater bus belonging to Naboka Sacco plunged into the Mbagathi River near Gataka.
The bus was travelling from Gataka to Nairobi when the driver, who also died in the crash, lost control and veered off the road near the Cooperative University of Kenya.
The persistent danger on this road has triggered multiple protests over the years, particularly from university students who use the route frequently. In March, students from Multimedia University staged demonstrations, blocking Magadi Road following the death of one of their colleagues in a road accident at the same spot.
The protests brought transport to a standstill for several hours as students lit bonfires and engaged police officers in running battles as they demanded immediate intervention from the government to fix the blackspot and improve safety for motorists and pedestrians.
