A heart-stopping road incident caught on camera has left Kenyans outraged, reigniting debates on road safety and responsible driving.
The viral footage, filmed from inside a moving vehicle, captures a group of over five cyclists riding along the left side of the road. Suddenly, a Toyota Probox driver appears, aggressively overtaking near the edge of the road, directly in the path of oncoming traffic.
In a split-second nightmare scenario, both the Probox and another car swerve violently to avoid a catastrophic head-on collision with a speeding fuel tanker.
The tanker driver slams the brakes, causing the massive vehicle to wobble precariously as it struggles to slow down.
Despite the near-death experience, the Probox driver continues overtaking recklessly, barely missing other vehicles trailing behind the tanker.
The video has triggered an intense debate on social media, with netizens split over who is to blame, the cyclists or the motorists.
On Facebook, Gachie Ngunjiri expressed his frustration, saying, “Being a cyclist is okay. We even had a campaign to protect them with stickers on our cars. But now, they are misusing the privilege.”
Kennedy Kendi warned, “Not worth the risk. You’ll be arguing about your rights from a hospital bed or worse, from the grave.”
Violet Njeri questioned whether cyclists should even be on the highway, commenting, “This wouldn't have happened if they weren’t all over the road.”
Swa Ferdinand echoed similar concerns, stating, “By the time you're arguing about your cycling rights, you'll be getting fluids via drip, hardly lifting an eyelid.”
However, Abuga Aroni took a different stance, saying, “None of this would have happened if the drivers had just overtaken when it was safe.”
Kenya’s Traffic Act (Cap 403) lays out strict regulations for cyclists, including penalties for reckless riding, cycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and violating road safety rules. Offenders risk fines of up to Ksh 100,000 or even a two-year jail term.