Tension erupted early Thursday morning after passengers aboard a Kangundo Road–bound matatu beat up a drunk man who allegedly refused to pay the Ksh 30 fare and insulted the conductor.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on a matatu traveling from Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) to Kayole Junction.
Witnesses Say the Man Ignored Multiple Requests to Pay Fare
According to witnesses, the unidentified man, who appeared heavily intoxicated, boarded the vehicle and ignored more than ten requests from the female conductor to pay his fare.
Instead of paying, he allegedly began hurling insults, prompting anger among other passengers. Many of the commuters, who were regulars on the route, came to the conductor’s defense and alerted touts standing near the door.
The driver was then forced to pull over near City Stadium to calm the situation as tensions flared inside the bus.
Passengers Take Matters Into Their Own Hands
When the drunk man continued to insult the conductor and refused to pay, several frustrated commuters reportedly descended on him, beating him before throwing him out of the moving matatu onto the tarmac.
He was left partially unconscious by the roadside, still muttering insults, as the vehicle drove off.
Hawkers nearby alerted police officers on patrol, who found the man and rushed him to Makadara Hospital for treatment.
Police Condemn the Mob Attack
Police officers from Makadara Police Station have condemned the attack, warning that mob justice can easily turn fatal.
“While the man’s behavior was unacceptable, taking the law into your own hands is dangerous and illegal,” said one officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Authorities have since launched an investigation into the incident, appealing to witnesses and the matatu crew to record statements.
