Boda boda riders in Nakuru County have condemned the burning of a Mash Poa bus at Salgaa trading centre on Monday morning, distancing the wider boda boda fraternity from the violence.

The riders urged residents to maintain calm and allow the law to take its course in regard to the incident.

The condemnation came as tensions remained high at Salgaa Trading Centre after an enraged crowd torched the bus moments after it fatally knocked down a boda boda rider along the stretch on the busy Nakuru-Eldoret highway.

The burnt-out shell of a Mash Poa bus at Salgaa along the Nakuru–Eldoret Highway on December 22, 2025, after it was torched by irate boda boda operators following a crash that killed one of their colleagues. Passengers were ordered to alight with their luggage before the bus was set on fire

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA / MTAA WANGU

The Boda Boda spokesperson in Nakuru County, Mwanda Steven, described the incident as unfortunate and called for restraint among riders and residents.

“The incident that happened at Salgaa Monday morning is very unfortunate. As the boda boda fraternity in Nakuru County, we are honest people, businesspeople as any other and we respect the law. We strongly condemn the destruction of property and ask our people not to take the law into their own hands,” Mwanda says.

The Mash Poa bus was moving from Nakuru to Eldoret general direction when it hit a boda boda rider, identified by colleagues as Kibet, killing him on the spot. Eyewitnesses say the bus was overtaking when it struck the rider near the town center.

Boda boda rider Peter Kamau says he rushed to the scene after learning of the accident.

“When I arrived, my friend was not responding. We took the body and went to report the matter at the police station. A short while later, I heard that angry youths and some boda boda riders had set the bus on fire,” Kamau says.

The burnt-out shell of a Mash Poa bus at Salgaa along the Nakuru–Eldoret Highway on December 22, 2025, after it was torched by irate boda boda operators following a crash that killed one of their colleagues. Passengers were ordered to alight with their luggage before the bus was set on fire

Another Salgaa resident, Philemon Lelei, says the passengers were asked to alight before the bus was torched, adding that frustrations over frequent accidents in Salga may have fueled the violence.

“Salgaa has become an accident hotspot, especially for pedestrians and boda boda riders. Many accidents are not handled well, and that angered the youth,” Lelei says, while stressing that violence was not justified.

The burnt-out shell of a Mash Poa bus at Salgaa along the Nakuru–Eldoret Highway on December 22, 2025, after it was torched by irate crowd following a crash that killed a boda-boda rider.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA / MTAA WANGU

When Mtaa Wangu arrived at the scene, children and youths were collecting scrap metal from the burnt bus. All the seats had been stolen, and the bus shell was later towed away to ease traffic congestion. Drivers operating along the Salga route says they were forced to use the service lane for fear that the flames could cause further danger.

Nakuru County Traffic Enforcement Officer Allan Ogolla confirmed the incident, says investigations into both the accident and the arson were ongoing.

Nakuru County Boda Boda Chairman Samuel Munyiri also appealed for calm, urging riders to exercise extra caution during the busy Christmas travel season when traffic volumes are high.

“As we approach the festive season, we ask boda boda riders and motorists to follow traffic rules and be careful. When accidents happen, let the government handle the matter,” Munyiri says.

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Boda boda riders deny involvement in burning of a bus at Salgaa

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