A matatu driver who sped off from a traffic police officer along Valley Road has told a Nairobi court that he fled because he was suffering from acute diarrhoea, not because he intended to evade arrest.
Donald Owuor Ndeda, the driver of a Isuzu minibus, appeared before the Milimani Magistrates Court to answer six traffic-related charges stemming from the widely circulated November 19, 2025 incident.
Driver Captured Fleeing on Video
According to the prosecution, Ndeda was caught on camera accelerating away after a traffic officer attempted to flag him down. The court heard that his actions endangered other road users, constituting reckless driving under the Traffic Act.
Prosecutors also accused him of:
- Causing obstruction by picking passengers at an unauthorized spot along Valley Road
- Failing to wear the mandatory PSV uniform, contrary to Section 103A of the Traffic Act
- Ignoring verbal police orders
- Failing to stop when instructed
Ndeda later skipped his court appearance on November 21, resulting in an additional charge for failing to attend plea taking.
Driver’s Defence: A Medical Emergency
In his defence, Ndeda claimed he was suffering from a sudden, uncontrollable diarrhoea attack, forcing him to rush off in panic. The explanation sparked murmurs in court, but the magistrate emphasized that his medical condition did not justify dangerous conduct on the road.
Court Imposes KSh70,000 Fine
After reviewing the charges, the court fined Ndeda KSh70,000, warning him and other PSV drivers that ignoring police orders and endangering the public would not be tolerated.
