06/06/2026
A student was reportedly thrown out of a moving bus along Thika Road over a fare dispute of just KSh 20. As I reflect on this tragic incident, one question keeps troubling me: were there no other passengers on that bus who could have come to his aid or spoken up on his behalf? Equally disturbing is the level of inhumanity displayed by those entrusted with transporting passengers safely.
Reports indicate that the driver and conductor are in hiding, but this raises an even bigger question about accountability. Should responsibility rest solely with the individuals involved, or should it extend to the matatu owner and the SACCO under which the vehicle operates?
Every public service vehicle in Kenya operates under a SACCO or transport company that benefits from the vehicle's operations and is expected to enforce safety standards, discipline crews, and protect passengers. If a crew can allegedly endanger a passenger's life over KSh 20, then serious questions must be asked about the culture, oversight, and accountability within the SACCO itself.
While the driver and conductor should be held personally accountable if found culpable, the investigation should not stop there. Authorities should also examine the role of the vehicle owner and the SACCO to determine whether there were failures in supervision, training, or enforcement of passenger safety regulations.
Public transport is built on trust. When passengers board a bus, they entrust their lives to the crew and the system behind them. No fare dispute, however small, should ever result in a passenger being exposed to danger. Justice must not only identify those directly responsible but also address any systemic failures that may have contributed to such a tragic incident.