Rogue boda boda riders burn car after fatal accident in Othaya
FILE IMAGE OF A POLICE LINE
A group of boda boda riders set a car on fire that had been involved in a fatal accident in Othaya Town, Nyeri County.
A driver of a Toyota Wish car had been involved in an accident where a rider was fatally wounded.
Police said the incident happened on January 7, 2026 in Wamagana area. Traffic police arrived at the scene and handled it before they ordered the driver to head to the local police station.
The driver however stopped a few meters ahead after being obstructed by other riders.
The driver jumped out of the car after the riders turned unruly and started to vandalise it. Witnesses said police had arrived at the scene of the accident and started to escort the car to the local police station with the driver on board.
But the riders obstructed it and turned unruly. This forced the traffic officers to also step back as they sought help from the local colleagues. In the meantime, the riders attacked the car and set it on fire.
The riders escaped the scene as more police officers arrived there. The wreckage was moved to the local police station pending investigations.
The incident, which left the car completely destroyed and caused heavy traffic disruptions, has sparked condemnation from the Motorists Association of Kenya and renewed fears over the rising trend of mob justice by boda boda riders following road accidents.
This is the latest such incident to happen in the past two months. Up to five vehicles have been burnt by the riders after fatal accidents.
The incidents happened in Nairobi, Salgaa in Nakuru and along Thika Road. They all remain under probe, police said on Thursday.
And guards and locals in Gathoge, Kirinyaga County repulsed an attempt by a gang to steal coffee from the Kimatu coffee factory.
More than ten robbers armed with crude weapons invaded the said factory after gaining entry after cutting the barbed wire chain link and attacked two guards as two others managed to run away and alerted neighbours who raised alarm.
One of the guards was injured in the head and legs in the drama while the second one had injuries in the head and legs too, police said.
The gang escaped as locals responded to the scene. The locals pursued them to Njukiini forest where they dropped 40 empty greenish sacks.
Police said they are investigating the incident which is the latest in a series that have been reported in the region.
The two guards were admitted to the local hospital in a stable condition.