Gruesome video shows matatu running over pedestrians in Mombasa

Mumbi Mutuko

April 26, 2019 10:53 AM

Matatu rams into pedestrians in Mombasa

Vehicles stuck in traffic in Mombasa

CCTV footage captured a matatu that ran over pedestrians who were crossing the road in Mombasa.

The video which was posted on Twitter sparked a conversation on why pedestrians ignore footbridges while crossing roads.

Kenyans argued that some footbridges were littered with garbage, human faeces and urine which makes pedestrians avoid them.

Roads authority was put on the spot for not constructing barriers which some tweeps argued would force pedestrians to use the bridges.

A footbridge Pulse Live Kenya

However, matatus operating in Mombasa were also accused of operating while faulty with some tweep suggesting the vehicle in the accident could have had faulty breaks.

Avoiding footbridges

In the video, the matatu seems to have lost control and rammed into the pedestrians who were crossing the road before it veered to the opposite road.

A 2018 report by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) showed that pedestrians are the most exposed to traffic accidents, with the latest data showing the death toll from accidents involving walkers rose from 766 persons in 2017 to 853 in 2018.

The number of pedestrians who were injured in accidents was also noted to have increased compared to the years before.

NTSA director for Road Safety Njeri Waithaka pointed to irresponsible behaviours where they cross roads in undesignated areas as the main reason and that majority of accidents happened along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.

Here is the video courtesy of Ma3 Route