A mob of boda boda riders on Friday evening set ablaze a 33-seater minibus after the vehicle reportedly knocked down their colleague near Mama Lucy Hospital in Embakasi Central, Nairobi.
Reports indicate that the accident, which took place along the Kangundo road, occurred after the vehicle attempted to swerve to avoid a collision with another oncoming vehicle.
The incident quickly caught the attention of locals, including boda boda riders, who confronted the driver of the minibus.
The swelling mob then went ahead to set the vehicle ablaze, with footage of the scene showing the matatu fully engulfed in flames as the locals watched from a distance.
The tragedy disrupted transportation along the ever-busy city road that connects areas such as Embakasi, Umoja and Donholm to Kangundo Road.
While there were no reports of any casualties from the inferno, the minibus was burnt beyond repair, leaving behind a metallic wreck.
Hours later, the area traffic police officers arrived at the scene and began assessing the situation, with residents and motorists stopped from approaching the scene.
The occurrence has since sparked fresh concerns from Kenyans over the growing tendency of boda boda riders setting vehicles involved in accidents on fire.
The practice, which is considered mob justice, has resulted in significant losses to commuter bus companies and even private car owners, with no certainty of insurance compensation.
In a similar incident just a fortnight ago in Juja, Kiambu County, another group of boda boda riders set on fire a 33-seater matatu for allegedly knocking down a pedestrian.
In the incident which took place along Thika Road near Juja town on November 2, the vehicle is said to have reportedly lost control and run over the pedestrian, killing him on the spot.
Angered by the occurrence, the boda riders, aided by a section of the residents, charged towards the matatu and set it on fire, burning it completely.
