Chaos unfolded along Thika Road on the morning of Monday, June 16, after a van ferrying schoolchildren overturned near Garden City Mall, causing a major traffic snarl-up stretching all the way from Githurai 45 to Nairobi CBD.
According to eyewitness accounts and images shared online, the van was on its way to school when the crash happened shortly after 6:00 a.m. Passersby and good Samaritans rushed to the scene to rescue the children trapped in the overturned vehicle.
Table of Contents:
Emergency Response Underway
Traffic police and emergency responders arrived moments later to assist with rescue efforts. Injured children were quickly rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. The extent of their injuries has not yet been disclosed.
Social media was flooded with live updates, with one user, MC Colins, urging motorists to avoid the area: “There’s a bad accident at Garden City along Thika Road… use alternative routes or hop on a motorbike.”
Traffic Advisory for Commuters
Motorists heading to Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) have been urged to seek alternate routes due to the jammed traffic on both lanes. The accident significantly disrupted morning commutes, especially for public service vehicles.
This Isn’t the First Incident
This accident comes just days after a Super Metro matatu overturned near Juja Town on June 10, 2025. In that case, several passengers were injured when a speeding lorry collided with the matatu on an acceleration lane.
Emergency crews responded quickly to that crash, and videos circulated online showed the matatu’s shattered windscreen and overturned state. Super Metro later issued a statement blaming a swerving lorry for the collision.
NTSA Speaks on Rising Accidents
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) recently reported 1,139 deaths in road crashes during Q1 2025—only slightly lower than 1,166 fatalities in Q1 2024.
According to the report:
- 420 were pedestrians
- 301 were motorcyclists
- 189 were passengers
- 130 were pillion passengers
- 83 were drivers
- 16 were pedal cyclists
As authorities continue investigating the Thika Road van accident, many Kenyans are calling for stricter enforcement of road safety regulations, especially concerning vehicles transporting children.
