A Nairobi court has declined to grant bail to the driver of a matatu that overturned along Enterprise Road in Nairobi in June, killing three passengers and injuring others.
The court ordered that Sammy Murigi Maina remain in custody until key prosecution witnesses have testified, with Magistrate Paul Mutai finding that the prosecution had established compelling reasons for the denial of bail at this stage.
The court also directed that Maina be taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Maina appeared before Magistrate Mutai after his arrest, nearly two months after the crash. He is facing three counts of causing death by dangerous driving, contrary to Section 46 of the Traffic Act, Cap 403 of the Laws of Kenya.
According to the charge sheet, Maina was driving an Isuzu minibus, registration number KDU 887C, operated by Risen Sacco, along Enterprise Road opposite KCB Bank in Nairobi County at about 8pm on June 3, 2026.
The prosecution alleges that Maina drove the vehicle recklessly and dangerously before losing control while negotiating a roundabout and hitting the kerb. The vehicle subsequently overturned and landed across the road.
Three passengers—Charles Brandy Wahome, Tamia Kalekye Nyambura and Edwin Kago—are alleged to have died at the scene.
Maina also faces two counts of driving a motor vehicle on a public road without due care and attention, contrary to Section 49(1) of the Traffic Act. The charges relate to passengers Eugene Ongundi and Dominic Mulwa, who the prosecution alleges sustained injuries in the crash.
He is further charged with driving an unroadworthy motor vehicle, contrary to Section 55(1), as read with Section 58(1) of the Traffic Act.
The charge sheet lists several alleged defects on the vehicle, including an obstructed emergency exit, reduced passenger headroom allegedly caused by multimedia screens, modified passenger seats, unsecured power inverters in the driver’s cabin, dark reflective tint on the passenger windows and a modified dashboard that allegedly obstructed the driver’s view of the road.
The charges come amid reports that the matatu had been involved in dangerous manoeuvres commonly referred to as “manyoka” shortly before the crash.
