Several people were injured on Thursday night, after a Forward Sacco matatu popularly known as “Instigator” overturned at the Umoja Junction area along Kangundo Road, near the Kangundo Fire Station.

The 32-seater vehicle was reportedly carrying passengers home when it lost control and overturned at around 10:00 PM, trapping some travellers underneath.

Videos shared online shortly before the crash appeared to show the matatu speeding and overtaking several vehicles.

Eyewitnesses and social-media users said some passengers had been shouting and hanging out of the windows, a behaviour commonly associated with the excitement surrounding customised “nganya” matatus.

Rescue efforts began immediately after the accident. Members of the public joined emergency responders to lift the overturned vehicle and free those trapped beneath it.

The injured were rushed to Mama Lucy Kibaby Hospital for treatment, although the exact number of casualties had not been officially confirmed by the time of reporting.

Police officers later arrived at the scene, secured the area, and arranged for the wreckage to be towed away.

Authorities said investigations would be conducted to establish the exact cause of the accident.

The crash has renewed debate over Nairobi’s nganya culture, a matatu subculture known for colourful graffiti, loud music, powerful sound systems, and daring driving displays.

While many young people see nganyas as a form of creativity and self-expression, critics argue that some crews have turned the roads into stages for dangerous stunts.

One of the most criticised practices is the “Nyoka Nyoka” or “Manyoka” stunt, where a driver swerves the matatu sharply from side to side in a snake-like motion, sometimes at high speed.

Another risky manoeuvre, known as “twerking,” involves aggressively rocking the vehicle while all wheels remain on the road.

Safety experts and industry insiders warn that such stunts can easily cause a driver to lose balance and control.

Just months earlier, in June, a customised 33-seater matatu known as “Detat” overturned along Enterprise Road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area after allegedly performing similar stunts.

That crash killed at least five people and left more than a dozen others seriously injured, sparking nationwide outrage and calls for tougher enforcement.

Following the latest Kangundo Road accident, Kenyans online have once again called on the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the National Police Service to take firm action against reckless matatu crews.

Many argue that warnings and occasional crackdowns have not been enough to stop the dangerous behaviour.

The NTSA has repeatedly warned that speeding, recklessness, and drunk driving remain among the leading causes of road casualties in Kenya.

The authority, together with police, has been conducting nationwide road safety operations targeting speeding, overloading, unroadworthy vehicles, and failure to wear seat belts.

As investigations into the Kangundo Road crash continue, the incident serves yet another painful reminder that while matatu culture remains a vibrant part of Nairobi’s youth urban identity, safety must always come before any form of hype and entertainment.