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| Kawangware Residents torch Matatu [Photo: Standard/KWEYU] |
By Cyrus Ombati
NAIROBI, KENYA: A 23-year old woman was killed after being thrown off a moving matatu over a Sh10 fare dispute in Nairobi’s Kawangware estate.
The incident sparked protests from locals who turned on the matatu burning it down in anger. Police arrived at the scene moments later and tried to disperse the group in vain.
Trouble started at about 7 am when the woman was ran over by the burnt mini bus after she was thrown off another public service vehicle in a dispute over the Sh10 fare.
According to the locals, the woman had Sh20 that she intended to pay as her fare to the city centre, but the tout told her he needed Sh30.
This prompted an argument before the tout reportedly pushed off as the matatu was still moving forcing her to land on the road where another matatu that was trailing ran over her.
The driver of the matatu that pushed the deceased sped off leaving the one that ran over at the scene. It was then that a crowd gathered and attacked the mini-bus setting it ablaze.
Business was paralysed for hours as police battled with the youth who also vandalized the mini-bus. Police said the driver of the matatu was arrested after he went to report he had killed a woman.
Dagoretti DC Cornelius Wamalwa who arrived at the scene appealed for calm saying they were tracing the matatu whose tout pushed the woman off.
“We are looking for the vehicle and the crew responsible for the incident and we promise we will get it soon. Calm down because justice will be done,” said Wamalwa.
The body of the unidentified woman was taken to the City mortuary shortly after the incident. Locals said touts usually hike fares at will and harass them when they complain.
“This should be a lesson to the other touts who hike fares on passengers after announcing a different fee at bus stops. We will not allow them,” said Joseph Kikechi, a resident.
The residents also attacked other matatus in the area in the confusion before police dispersed them using teargas canisters.
Another group of protesters vandalized the vehicle after they had burnt it.
NAIROBI, KENYA: A 23-year old woman was killed after being thrown off a moving matatu over a Sh10 fare dispute in Nairobi’s Kawangware estate.
The incident sparked protests from locals who turned on the matatu burning it down in anger. Police arrived at the scene moments later and tried to disperse the group in vain.
Trouble started at about 7 am when the woman was ran over by the burnt mini bus after she was thrown off another public service vehicle in a dispute over the Sh10 fare.
According to the locals, the woman had Sh20 that she intended to pay as her fare to the city centre, but the tout told her he needed Sh30.
This prompted an argument before the tout reportedly pushed off as the matatu was still moving forcing her to land on the road where another matatu that was trailing ran over her.
The driver of the matatu that pushed the deceased sped off leaving the one that ran over at the scene. It was then that a crowd gathered and attacked the mini-bus setting it ablaze.
Business was paralysed for hours as police battled with the youth who also vandalized the mini-bus. Police said the driver of the matatu was arrested after he went to report he had killed a woman.
Dagoretti DC Cornelius Wamalwa who arrived at the scene appealed for calm saying they were tracing the matatu whose tout pushed the woman off.
“We are looking for the vehicle and the crew responsible for the incident and we promise we will get it soon. Calm down because justice will be done,” said Wamalwa.
The body of the unidentified woman was taken to the City mortuary shortly after the incident. Locals said touts usually hike fares at will and harass them when they complain.
“This should be a lesson to the other touts who hike fares on passengers after announcing a different fee at bus stops. We will not allow them,” said Joseph Kikechi, a resident.
The residents also attacked other matatus in the area in the confusion before police dispersed them using teargas canisters.
Another group of protesters vandalized the vehicle after they had burnt it.
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