Saturday afternoon saw brief traffic disruptions along Waiyaki Way in Nairobi when a government vehicle unexpectedly burst into flames near the Mountain View area, close to Kangemi. The incident, which took place around 12:30 p.m., involved a Station Wagon with government (GK) license plates, which was carrying only the driver at the time.
Eyewitnesses reported that the car caught fire suddenly, causing a momentary panic among passing motorists and pedestrians. Fortunately, the driver escaped unharmed and managed to retrieve only a backpack before stepping away from the vehicle. The driver then waited for assistance from police officers, who later arrived at the scene.
According to Dagoretti Sub-County Deputy OCPD Joyce Iminza, the vehicle belonged to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and was en route to the unit's headquarters in Gilgil. The driver first noticed smoke coming from the engine and attempted to move the car toward the median strip. However, the high curb prevented him from doing so, and he was forced to pull over to the roadside.
"Passersby tried to help, but the fire spread quickly," said Ms. Iminza, explaining the speed with which the vehicle was engulfed in flames.
Firefighters from Nairobi County were called to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze, but the car was severely damaged. Meanwhile, officers from Kabete Police Station arrived to control the situation, keeping onlookers at bay. Some witnesses reported that a few individuals attempted to salvage parts of the burning vehicle, possibly to sell as scrap metal.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, with the police confirming that they are investigating the incident. Crime Scene Investigators were also present to document and process the scene as part of standard procedure for such occurrences, according to Deputy OCPD Iminza.
While the fire was quickly put out, the incident briefly disrupted traffic on the busy Waiyaki Way. Authorities worked to restore normal flow as soon as the situation was under control. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and only the vehicle was damaged.
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