Matatu catches fire on the road, forcing passengers to run

According to reports, all the 13 occupants, some of them students heading back to school, escape unhurt.

Henry Nyambega who was driving the matatu told Citizen Digital that the vehicle had spent the previous day, Sunday, at the garage, undergoing service.

“The vehicle was carrying passengers travelling from Magena to Kisii, most of them being students, and women headed to Daraja Mbili market when it caught fire,” Nyambega said.

The driver said that the incident happened just moments after he made a stopover at Nyakegogi centre, a few kilometres from Itumbe town, where a male student alighted.

“As we proceeded with the journey to Kisii town, all the passengers suddenly began to cough,” added Nyambega.

It was then that the conductor instructed everyone to alight with their luggage.

Moments later, the vehicle caught fire, and burnt to near ashes.

The police arrived at the scene, and are investigating the incident to try and find out what may have cause of the fire.