Matatu Driver Sentenced After Conductor Falls From Moving Vehicle on Thika Road

A court has sentenced a matatu driver to two months in prison after his conductor fell from a moving vehicle along Thika Superhighway and died.

The driver, Paul Nyambuto Momanyi, was found guilty of failing to ensure passenger safety, a violation of Kenya’s traffic laws. Thamara Irene handed down the sentence, with an option for the driver to pay a KSh15,000 fine instead of serving jail time.

In her ruling, the magistrate emphasized that while conductors are responsible for managing doors, the driver carries the ultimate duty of ensuring all safety measures are in place before moving the vehicle.

The court heard that on March 27, 2026, Momanyi was driving matatu registration KDM 246E near the Kastemil area when the vehicle’s door was left unsecured. 

The conductor, Kenneth Kamau Kaheri, fell from the moving vehicle and died on the spot. A post-mortem report confirmed he succumbed to injuries from the fall.

It was revealed that the driver only became aware of the incident after passengers screamed for him to stop, raising concerns about the lack of proper safety awareness and monitoring.

Momanyi pleaded for leniency, telling the court he had no prior criminal record and was the sole provider for his young family. However, the court maintained that personal circumstances do not override a driver’s responsibility to ensure safety.

Traffic police who responded to the scene impounded the vehicle for inspection. The assessment revealed that the matatu did not meet several mandatory safety requirements, casting doubt on how it had been cleared for operation.

The case has once again drawn attention to safety concerns within Kenya’s matatu industry. Despite ongoing enforcement efforts, issues such as overloading, unsecured doors, and reckless driving continue to pose serious risks to passengers.

Road safety advocates say the ruling sends a strong warning to drivers, stressing that negligence on the road has serious consequences. However, whether such decisions will lead to lasting change in the industry remains uncertain.