A bus heading to Mombasa was reduced to a burnt wreck after catching fire at Dakota Complex along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in the early hours of Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
The incident which occurred at approximately 5 a.m. after the vehicle reportedly experienced mechanical difficulties.
Witnesses say the driver pulled the bus off the highway after noticing a problem, giving passengers time to get out before the fire spread throughout the vehicle.
Despite the successful evacuation, the flames consumed the entire bus, destroying passengers’ luggage and other personal belongings. No injuries were reported.
The burnt-out wreckage has been subsequently moved to a nearby police station as authorities began investigating the incident.
Traffic along the highway was however temporarily affected as motorists negotiated the scene while efforts to clear the wreckage continued.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the bus company had not released an official statement by the time of publication.
Although vehicle fires can be triggered by electrical malfunctions, fuel leakages or overheating, investigators are yet to establish what caused Wednesday’s incident.
Previous Bus Fire Raises Safety Concerns
The incident follows a similar occurrence involving a Tahmeed bus travelling from Nairobi to Mombasa that caught fire in Voi, Taita Taveta County, on September 4, 2026.
Reports indicated that the bus burst into flames shortly after two of its rear tyres burst, forcing passengers to evacuate. All passengers were reported to have escaped safely.
The latest incident has renewed attention on vehicle safety along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, one of Kenya’s major routes for passenger and goods transportation.
