A video circulating online has captured a tense road rage incident in which a private car driver is seen brandishing what appears to be a firearm while confronting a bus driver, sparking widespread public outrage.
In the undated clip seen by TNX Africa, the confrontation involves a public service bus and a grey private vehicle, though the events that triggered the altercation remain unclear.
Footage recorded from inside the bus shows the bus driver attempting to overtake the private car, only for the motorist to repeatedly block the manoeuvre. As tensions escalate, a passenger can be heard expressing frustration.
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“Weka kando hapo uone,” one passenger laments.
After several failed overtaking attempts, the private car driver is seen raising what appears to be a pistol, prompting immediate fear and panic. The bus driver quickly slows down and gestures for the car to move ahead. The private vehicle then speeds off briefly before the bus catches up moments later.
Inside the bus, passengers can be heard trying to calm the visibly shaken driver.
“Usikuwe na shaka, maneno ya mtu kama huyu ni rahisi,” one passenger says.
However, the confrontation does not end there. Shortly after, the private car slows down again, and as the bus approaches, the driver is seen making obscene gestures, provoking angry reactions from passengers.
“Si usimame utuonyeshe hiyo madharau,” a voice shouts from inside the bus.
The video has since gone viral, triggering strong reactions from Kenyans online, many of whom have condemned the motorist’s actions and called for swift intervention by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), which is tasked with regulating road transport and promoting safety.
Reacting on X, user Gadi Gmem wrote: “@ntsa_kenya jameni kwani huku ni Mexico.”
Another user, Mama Fua Off, called for the driver’s arrest, stating: “He should be arrested.”
Omwanda added: “Unacceptable. This kind of behaviour should be stopped.”
As of publication, authorities had not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
What the Law Says on Firearms
In Kenya, firearm ownership is governed by the Firearms Act (Cap 114), which clearly states that gun ownership is a privilege granted by the state, not a constitutional right.
To qualify for a firearm licence, an applicant must be a Kenyan citizen aged 21 years or older and demonstrate a genuine reason for owning a gun, such as personal safety in high-risk environments or sporting purposes.
The application process involves rigorous vetting, including comprehensive background checks by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), a psychiatric evaluation from a government hospital, and proof of financial stability through bank statements.
Once approved, firearms must undergo ballistic testing at the DCI headquarters and be registered with the Firearms Licensing Board (FLB).
The law also strictly bars certain individuals from possessing firearms. These include persons with criminal records—particularly those involving violence—as well as individuals deemed to be of unsound mind or of intemperate habits. Minors under the age of 18 are prohibited from handling firearms, except under limited supervised training circumstances.
Additionally, it is a criminal offence to possess a firearm while drunk or disorderly. Civilians are also expressly forbidden from owning “arms of war,” such as automatic rifles including AK-47s, G3s, or MP5s, or weapons fitted with silencers, which are reserved exclusively for the disciplined forces.
The incident has reignited debate on road safety, gun control, and the enforcement of traffic and firearms laws in Kenya.