NAIROBI, Kenya — A Land Rover was set ablaze by a mob of boda boda riders on Saturday night following its involvement in an accident with a motorbike on the Thika Superhighway.
The incident, which took place near the National Youth Service (NYS) area, caused a significant crowd to gather and led to a traffic jam that lasted for several hours.
Videos shared on social media showed the vehicle engulfed in flames as riders could be heard demanding that the driver be handed over to them.
This event occurred less than a week after a similar incident on Jogoo Road, where boda boda operators set fire to a City Shuttle bus on August 7 following a fatal collision with a rider.
In both cases, witnesses accused emergency services of a delayed response, which they claimed allowed the violent acts to escalate.
Following the latest incident, the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) has issued a strong condemnation of the attack, describing it as reckless and a setback to the industry’s professionalization efforts.
“BAK strongly condemns the unfortunate incident on Thika Road where a vehicle was torched following a collision with a boda boda rider,” said National Executive Chairman Kevin Mubadi.
“While we deeply sympathise with the rider involved in the accident, we firmly reiterate that violence, destruction of property, and taking the law into one’s own hands are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Mubadi insisted that all individuals involved in the arson must be held accountable. “BAK confirms that all individuals involved in this unfortunate act of lawlessness must be arrested and prosecuted to serve as an example. Such behaviour not only tarnishes the image of our sector but also endangers the lives of innocent Kenyans and undermines efforts to professionalise the boda boda industry.”
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The association called on its members to abandon mob justice in favor of allowing police, medical personnel, and insurance processes to handle accidents.
“As an association, we emphasise that we do not advocate for chaos after an accident. Proper legal and safety procedures must always be followed. Justice must be sought through lawful channels,” BAK stated.
The association reaffirmed its mission to promote order and professionalism within the sector and urged riders to exercise restraint. It also called upon law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and decisively.
The condemnation comes amid increasing concern over repeated incidents of mob attacks involving boda boda riders, which stakeholders warn pose a threat to road safety and continue to harm the industry’s reputation.