The notorious Salgaa blackspot along the Nairobi-Nakuru-Eldoret highway was once again plunged into tragedy and chaos on Sunday evening, December 21, 2025, after a fatal road accident escalated into a violent act of mob justice that left two people dead and a 65-seater passenger bus completely destroyed.
The incident occurred when a Kampala-bound Mash Poa bus collided with a motorcycle carrying two people. Both the rider and passenger were killed instantly on impact, according to eyewitnesses. News of the crash spread quickly, drawing a large crowd of boda boda riders and local residents to the scene.
What began as grief and anger soon spiraled into violence. Witnesses say boda boda riders confronted and allegedly attacked the bus driver before turning their fury on the vehicle. Windows were smashed as passengers scrambled to escape, moments before the bus was doused with petrol and set ablaze.
“The anger was instant,” said one witness. “Before police could intervene, the bus was already in flames. It’s a miracle the passengers got out safely.”
The fire reduced the bus to a mangled metallic shell, causing a major traffic snarl-up along the busy highway, a key regional transport corridor linking Kenya to Uganda and the wider East African region. Hundreds of motorists were stranded for more than two hours as police worked to restore order and clear the wreckage.
Conflicting accounts have since emerged regarding the cause of the collision. Some witnesses claimed the bus was speeding and overtaking recklessly, while others alleged the motorcyclist may have been riding under the influence and collided head-on with the oncoming vehicle. Police say investigations are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of the crash and identify those responsible for the arson.
The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “deeply distressing and utterly reprehensible,” while praising Mash Poa’s safety record and calling for swift arrests. The Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association also questioned how the bus was torched just metres from Salgaa Police Station.
Authorities have warned that mob justice poses a growing security threat, urging the public to allow the law to take its course.
