TEN SHILLINGS; THE PRICE OF A LIFE-A WOMAN KILLED AFTER A DISPUTE IN KAWANGWARE-NAIROBI

Yesterday was a day like other busy days in the city of Nairobi. Like other people, one un identified woman boarded a vehicle at a terminus in Kawangware headed for the City of Nairobi. Things turned out to be different for her. As we get the reports By Cyrus of standard and Peter Obuya of Nationa media yesterday, 21st of January 2013 witnessed a very tragic incident where a woman passenger was thrown out of a public service vehicle and was run over by an on-coming vehicle for lack of ten shillings. The incident sparked protests from locals who burnt the matatu.

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 woman was thrown off a matatu after a Sh10 fare dispute and was ran over by an oncoming one at around 7am Monday.

An argument over the Sh10 deficit ended in the tout pushing her out of the moving vehicle. She was then run over by the bus. The matatu sped away after the incident leaving the driver of the bus and his conductor to face the wrath of rioters.
Police on Monday said they were holding the bus driver and conductor but the matatu crew were still at large.Dagoretti police boss Mathews Gwiyo said the body of the woman was taken to the city mortuary.
Police had a difficult time calming the rowdy youths who barricaded the road and at one time had to lob tear gas canisters to disperse them. Police looked on as the youths set the bus ablaze and later carted away its parts.
Other motorists were not spared as their vehicles were pelted with stones. Police diverted motorists to other roads. Mr Wamalwa appealed for calm and promised to trace the matatu crew.“We are going to hunt them down and I can assure you we will bring them to book,” he said. Police arrived at the scene after the crowd turned rowdy. Business was paralysed for hours as the youth engaged police in running battles. Police said the driver of the matatu was arrested after he went to report the incident.
Residents claimed the touts have a tendency of announcing cheaper fare at the termini before retracting to overcharge passengers once on board. One of the protesters said, “We are angered by the act of the makanga (tout) who physically threw out this lady from the matatu and we want this to be a lesson to the rest of the operators along this route,” said Ms Lilian Anyango who had joined the protesters in running battles around the estate.
The government should regulate fares and put mechanisms in place to protect passengers who face haphazard fare increments whenever matatu owners want. All those involved the loss of the life of this woman should face the law, and the family of the woman be compensated. Matatu madness should stop!!