A tragic incident along Thika Road has left one passenger dead after a Super Metro bus conductor allegedly threw him out of a moving vehicle over a Ksh 30 fare dispute, witnesses report.
The incident, which occurred earlier this week near Kahawa Wendani, has sparked outrage across Kenya and raised questions about passenger safety in the public transport sector.
The victim, identified as Gilbert Thuo Kimani, reportedly boarded a Super Metro bus, registration number KDL 125N, where the fare was set at Ksh 80.
According to eyewitnesses, Gilbert, a middle-aged man, could only pay Ksh 50, leading to a heated altercation with the conductor. Despite his pleas, the conductor allegedly opened the door and pushed Gilbert out while the bus was in motion.
The passenger fell onto the pavement, was run over by the same vehicle, and died on the spot.
“He begged the tout to let him pay what he had, but the conductor wouldn’t listen. He just shoved him out,” said a passenger who witnessed the event. A postmortem later revealed that Gilbert succumbed to severe injuries, including broken legs, ribs, and hands.
Super Metro, a popular Matatu operator known for its efficiency, issued a statement expressing condolences to the victim’s family and suspending the crew involved pending investigation.
The company disputed claims of foul play, asserting that Gilbert attempted to alight from the moving bus and lost his footing.
“If he had been thrown out, he wouldn’t have been run over by the same vehicle,” said Michael Muturi, a company representative, in a statement to local media.
The incident has ignited public fury, with many Kenyans taking to social media to condemn the conductor’s actions and call for accountability.
“Ksh 30 is worth a life now? This is pure inhumanity,” one user posted on X. Others have urged a boycott of Super Metro services, criticising the company for prioritising profit over passenger welfare.
Authorities have impounded the bus and launched a probe into the incident, with traffic police from Kahawa leading the investigation.
Gilbert’s body was taken to General Kago Mortuary as his family and community mourned the senseless loss.
