Video captures rogue matatu driver nearly running over traffic police officer in Nairobi CBD

A rogue matatu driver has nearly run over a police officer who had flagged down the vehicle in the middle of a busy street in Nairobi's CBD.

The dramatic encounter, captured in a viral video, has sparked debate over rogue drivers and escalating confrontations with police.

In the undated footage, the officer is seen standing confidently in front of the matatu, waving his swagger cane as he orders the driver to stop. His voice rises above the noise of the city as he shouts, “Fungua wewe… wacha ujinga!” a clear sign of his mounting frustration with the driver’s defiance.

Instead of complying, the driver abruptly reversed the matatu, causing a brief moment of confusion. A man who had been hanging onto the door of the moving vehicle quickly hopped off and walked around to the other side, seemingly aware that the situation was about to escalate.

Meanwhile, the officer, now visibly angered, stepped forward and commanded, “Hio gari ishukishe watu wote hapa!” His tone rose in anger as he intended to bring the vehicle under control.

pic.twitter.com/zlPwt2WYfH — The Nairobi Times (@TheNairobiTimez) November 22, 2025

However, the driver had no intention of surrendering. In a shocking twist, he suddenly accelerated, steering the matatu directly toward the officer standing in front of the vehicle.

Onlookers gasped and stepped back as the matatu lunged forward, turning what was already a tense confrontation into a near-tragic moment.

Fortunately, quick reflexes saved him. The officer leapt aside just in time, narrowly avoiding being run over.

The matatu then sped off, disappearing into traffic as pedestrians and bystanders watched in disbelief. The officer, unharmed but clearly shaken and furious, broke into a run as he attempted to chase down the fleeing driver on foot.

The dramatic clip has circulated widely online, prompting strong reactions from Kenyans.

Many condemned the driver’s reckless behaviour, calling it a blatant disregard for human life and law enforcement.

Others pointed to the broader issue of confrontations between police and matatu operators, a relationship often strained by corruption allegations, frustration, and the daily pressure of navigating Nairobi’s congested roads.