A video that went viral on X (formerly Twitter) has ignited public fury. The footage shows a Nairobi matatu, commonly known as a “nganya,” navigating the wrong way through the Central Business District, almost colliding with a woman walking on the street.
The footage shows the high-speed vehicle forcing the woman to leap out of its path to avoid a head-on collision as it bypassed heavy traffic by using the oncoming lane. The incident, which occurred during peak hours this week, has reignited the debate over road safety and the perceived “impunity” of the matatu sector. In the clip, the driver of the flashy, graffiti-covered vehicle, “nganya,” continues at high speed without stopping, even as other motorists and pedestrians look on in shock.
National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director General Nashon Kondiwa addressed the growing trend of such maneuvers in a statement regarding recent road safety violations. “Recklessness on our roads is not a mistake; it is a choice that has deadly consequences.”
Kondiwa stated. “We will ensure that any individual or entity found to have contributed to this tragedy through negligence or violation of traffic laws is held fully accountable.” Local witnesses in the CBD expressed frustration with the lack of immediate enforcement. “It’s a miracle she wasn’t hit; these drivers think the rules don’t apply to them when there is traffic,” said one person who posted the video online. The NTSA has confirmed that they are currently looking at the footage to find out the vehicle’s registration number and the SACCO that is responsible.
The authority has recently taken action against drivers who were caught in similar viral videos. For example, they recently suspended the licenses of a driver who was filmed using a pedestrian walkway in the Allsops area.
As of Tuesday, no one has been arrested in connection with this specific CBD incident. However, the NTSA asks people to keep reporting bad drivers through their official channels.
