Passengers escape unhurt as matatu bursts into flames at Huruma

The shell of the matatu that burst into flames on Juja Road in Nairobi on October 10, 2018. [Photo, Courtesy]

A matatu burst into flames on Juja Road on Wednesday morning.

Passengers were still inside the 14-seater vehicle during the 8.45am incident that occurred near Huruma Flats.

Occupants in the Pinpoint Sacco matatu escaped unhurt. The vehicle was headed to Eastleigh from Kayole.

Owner and driver of the vehicle, James Muigai, said there was an explosion in the second row of seats.

 “Some of the passengers jumped through the windows,” he told witnesses.

Muigai went on, "Niliskia mlipuko na gari ikaanza kuchomeka.” (I heard an explosion and a fire broke out).

A similar incident was witnessed in Kayole in 2015, when 15 passengers were injured.

An explosive went off inside a matatu in Umoja. The occupants were burnt and hit by flying objects after the blast inside a Forward Travellers matatu headed for Kayole.

The injured were taken to Mama Lucy Hospital with multiple injuries.

Witnesses said they saw sparks of fire emerge from the matatu’s battery before a fire engulfed, accompanied by a loud blast.