Baba Yaga, one of Nairobi’s best-known customised matatus and a vehicle associated with President William Ruto’s son George Ruto, was involved in a road accident on Tuesday night, September 29, after ending up on its side in a ditch.

Videos and images circulating online show the brightly customised matatu lying inside the ditch as members of the public gathered around the vehicle. K24 reported that the crash happened at night, while separate reporting by Tuko said some people suffered minor injuries.

The circumstances that caused the matatu to leave the road were not immediately established.

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Footage reported by K24 showed Baba Yaga carrying passengers through Nairobi’s Central Business District earlier on Tuesday before images of the crash began circulating later that night.

At the accident scene, the matatu could be seen lying on its side with its distinctive customised bodywork still clearly visible.

K24’s initial report said the footage did not establish whether passengers were aboard at the time of the accident. Tuko subsequently reported, citing a source, that some people were injured but described the injuries as minor.

Metros Kenya could not independently establish the number of people involved or the extent of any injuries.

Baba Yaga is particularly familiar to commuters and matatu enthusiasts along the Nairobi CBD–Ongata Rongai route.

The matatu is among a group of heavily customised PSVs associated with George Ruto and Nairobi’s expanding nganya culture.

Its distinctive appearance, lighting and entertainment features have helped make it recognisable beyond the commuters who regularly use the route.

For commuters trying to understand Nairobi’s operators and their destinations, see the Nairobi Matatu SACCOs: Major Operators, Routes and Destinations guide.

Baba Yaga’s John Wick identity

The vehicle takes its identity from the John Wick film franchise.

Its exterior and interior feature artwork and design elements inspired by the fictional assassin, contributing to the elaborate visual identity for which Nairobi’s customised matatus have become known.

Baba Yaga has also appeared in Nairobi’s competitive matatu culture, where customised vehicles attract followings based on everything from artwork and lighting to music systems and crew personalities.

Another accident involving Baba Yaga

Tuesday night’s incident is not the first reported accident involving the matatu.

Tuko reported that Baba Yaga was involved in another collision in April 2026 that resulted in damage to its front section. The precise circumstances of that earlier incident were not established in the reporting.

The latest crash is therefore likely to attract particular attention among Rongai commuters and matatu enthusiasts who follow the vehicle.

Baba Yaga was previously driven by Kinara, a familiar personality within Nairobi’s matatu scene.

Kinara has since moved into a management role with 98 Sacco, according to K24, after previously driving several prominent customised matatus including Money Fest, Moxie and Baba Yaga.

The Sacco has recently expanded its presence in Nairobi’s matatu industry, including the introduction of additional customised vehicles.

Beyond Baba Yaga’s celebrity status, the crash again highlights the road-safety risks facing passengers, crews and other road users in Nairobi’s busy public transport system.

Passengers involved in a PSV crash should report injuries, seek medical attention and preserve relevant accident and treatment documentation where necessary.

Metros Kenya explains those procedures in PSV Accident Laws in Kenya: What Passengers Should Do After a Matatu or Bus Crash and PSV Insurance Laws in Kenya: What Matatu and Bus Passengers Should Know.

Commuters can also use the Nairobi Matatu Routes and Numbers: Complete Commuter Guide to explore routes, numbers and destinations across Nairobi.

As of Wednesday morning, the precise cause of the Baba Yaga crash had not been publicly established in the reports reviewed by Metros Kenya.