At least 30 people were injured on Tuesday evening after a passenger bus veered off the road and plunged into a river in Waruku, off Waiyaki Way in Kangemi, Nairobi.
Confirming the incident, Nairobi County Environment Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria said rescue operations were ongoing and called for additional emergency support.
“A bus has plunged into a river at Waruku, off Waiyaki Way, leaving over 30 people injured. More than 20 victims have been taken to Riverside Medical Center, while others are still being evacuated. More ambulances are urgently needed,” Mosiria said.
The Latema Sacco bus is said to have toppled into the Mashagusha Stream, a tributary of the Kitusuru River, in the Waruku Village area. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Images and videos shared online showed a chaotic rescue scene, with bystanders and emergency responders working frantically to help trapped passengers.
The bus lay on its side, partially submerged, as rescuers pulled victims through windows and from the water. Injured passengers could be seen lying along the riverbank, some receiving first aid as others awaited evacuation.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai was among the first leaders to raise the alarm, appealing for assistance from the Kenya Red Cross and St. John Ambulance.
“We have a major accident in Waruku. A 33-seater bus has plunged into the river. We are asking for rescue services,” Alai posted.
Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi expressed her sorrow over the accident, urging prayers for those injured.
“The hardworking parents left home this morning to seek their families’ daily bread but, sadly, will not get home. My heart goes out to all affected families,” she said, thanking medical teams and first responders for their swift action.
Rescue operations continued late into the night, with emergency teams battling challenging terrain to reach victims.