A Super Metro bus driver in Nairobi made a split-second decision to steer his moving vehicle off the road and into a roadside pavement after a traffic police officer allegedly removed the ignition keys while the bus was still carrying passengers.
Footage of the incident has since circulated widely online, capturing the moment residents surrounded the officer and confronted him over what they described as reckless conduct that endangered lives.
Driver Loses Control, Strikes Matatu to Stop the Bus
According to a witness who recorded the video, the driver attempted to brake after the keys were allegedly taken, but the braking system failed to respond.
Faced with a moving bus and no power, the driver reportedly made the deliberate choice to swerve off the road rather than continue along a path that could have caused a far more serious collision with other traffic.
The bus struck a parked 14-seater matatu in the process, bringing it to a stop. At least one other vehicle was also damaged in the incident, with the witness stating that three vehicles in total required repairs as a result of the crash.
“Now three vehicles need repair due to this incident. This police officer was in the wrong. He should be brought to book,” the onlooker said.
Crowd Surrounds Officer at the Scene After the collision, a crowd of Nairobi residents gathered around the traffic officer, who appeared to be on a phone call as the confrontation unfolded.
Those present accused him of triggering the accident by allegedly pulling the keys from a moving vehicle, an act they described as dangerous and unlawful.
Members of the crowd blocked the officer’s path, insisting he remain at the scene until those whose vehicles had been damaged received some form of redress. The officer eventually made his way through the gathering, stepping onto the road between vehicles stuck in traffic, with several people following closely behind him.
The incident reignited public frustration over the conduct of traffic officers on Nairobi’s roads, particularly in their interactions with matatu and public service vehicle operators.
