The accident occurred on Saturday, January 31, 2026, and involved a 33-seater matatu that lost control and ploughed into a group of teachers who had gathered outside the school.
According to preliminary accounts, the teachers had assembled early in the day to take part in Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) elections scheduled to be held at the school.
What was meant to be a routine union exercise quickly turned into a scene of chaos and grief when the matatu veered off the road and struck the group at high speed.
Emergency responders said the impact was severe and left multiple people critically injured at the scene. At least ten teachers died on the spot, while fourteen others sustained serious injuries.
Ambulances rushed the injured to Guru Nanak MP Shah Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital, where doctors placed some victims under intensive care as medical teams worked to stabilize them.
Eyewitnesses described moments of confusion and panic immediately after the crash. Several people ran toward the scene to assist before emergency services arrived, while others stood frozen in shock.
Some victims were thrown several metres from where they had been standing, while others were briefly trapped beneath the overturned vehicle until rescuers managed to free them.
Witnesses at the scene said the matatu appeared to be travelling along the busy highway when the driver suddenly lost control.
Multiple accounts pointed to a mechanical failure, with several witnesses stating that the vehicle’s brakes failed moments before the crash.
The matatu reportedly hit roadside barriers before overturning and crashing into the group of teachers.
First responders said they encountered a deeply distressing scene, with numerous casualties spread across the roadside.
Rescue teams worked under intense pressure to provide first aid, call in ambulances, and secure the area as quickly as possible.
Police officers later cordoned off the scene to allow emergency crews to operate and to begin investigations into the cause of the accident.
The tragedy forced Kuppet officials to immediately suspend the elections at City Primary School.
Union leaders and teachers shifted their focus to assisting the injured, accounting for missing colleagues, and informing families of the victims.
Many teachers at the venue broke down in tears as the scale of the loss became clear.
Traffic along Thika Road was heavily disrupted for several hours as authorities diverted vehicles to alternative routes.
Motorists experienced long delays as police cleared debris from the road and towed away the wreckage of the matatu.
Investigators remained at the scene for hours, documenting evidence and interviewing witnesses to establish the exact sequence of events that led to the crash.
The accident has once again raised serious concerns about road safety, particularly the mechanical condition of public service vehicles and enforcement of traffic regulations on major highways.
Thika Road, despite multiple upgrades over the years, continues to record serious accidents, often linked to speeding, reckless driving, or vehicle defects.
As news of the incident spread, messages of condolence poured in from teachers’ unions, education stakeholders, and members of the public.
Many described the loss as a heavy blow to the teaching profession and called for urgent action to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Authorities are expected to release an official report once investigations are complete.
Meanwhile, families, colleagues, and students of the deceased teachers continue to mourn lives cut short in a tragedy that has shaken the nation’s education fraternity.
