Nairobi, Kenya – A heartbreaking cloud hangs over Eastlands after a 14-year-old Somali boy, known among his peers for his bubbling talent and love for the camera, lost his life in a hit-and-run accident along the busy Muthaiga road. The teen, identified as Abdi Hassan, succumbed to severe injuries hours after being rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, shattering the hopes of a family that believed his creativity would someday lift them out of struggle.
Abdi had been filming a short clip for an online challenge—something he often did to entertain his growing circle of followers. Witnesses say he had stepped slightly onto the edge of the road near the Muthaiga Underpass when a speeding matatu veered too close. The impact sent him crashing onto the pavement as horrified onlookers screamed for help.
“He was always filming something,” said a shopkeeper who regularly saw Abdi passing through the area. “But that vehicle was reckless. It didn’t even slow down.”
Paramedics arrived within minutes and fought to stabilise the teen, but he was later pronounced clinically dead due to extensive head injuries.
Back in Mutungo Zone 8, grief has engulfed the Hassan household. His relatives described him as a cheerful boy who spent hours teaching himself editing, transitions, and trending dance routines. “He kept telling us he would go big one day,” his uncle shared, holding back tears. “We didn’t imagine his passion would put him in harm’s way.”
Police say the driver responsible fled the scene, leaving damaged vehicle parts scattered as the only clue. CCTV footage from nearby businesses is being reviewed to aid the search.
As neighbours raise funds for his burial, Abdi’s death has sparked conversations about the growing risks young creators face while filming in unsafe spaces. His final video—now circulating online—has turned into a painful reminder of a rising star extinguished far too soon.
By Kenyans