Drivers John Mwangi and Dominic Amaya, who were behind the viral Rongai matatus impounded by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), have been fined Ksh50,000.
Mwangi, the driver of Ambush, and Amaya, the driver of Moneyfest, were charged with operating unroadworthy vehicles along Ongata Rongai and Langata in Nairobi.
The matatus caused outrage online after being spotted driving at high speeds while two men dangerously hung on top of them.
The Kibera Law Courts fined each driver Ksh50,000 or six months imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to the charges. The case is set to be heard on January 20, 2025.
Speaking after the video sparked mixed reactions and prompted calls for action, the Sacco owners took responsibility for the incident, promising to take necessary measures against the drivers involved.
"On behalf of the investor and the Sacco, we take full responsibility for the driver failing to stop the vehicle and instructing the kamageras to get off the roof," one of the Sacco leaders stated.
The matatu owners condemned the incident and assured the public that stringent action had been taken against the drivers and conductors of the two vehicles.
"We are very remorseful, and we condemn the actions. We have already taken action against the driver and the conductors involved," they assured.
They clarified that the youths spotted on top of the vehicles and hanging on the doors were not employees of the Sacco but turn boys, commonly referred to as kamageras, who assist in onboarding passengers into the matatus.
Kenyans raised concerns, citing such recklessness as a major cause of road accidents. In a separate video, one of the rogue matatus, which appeared to be overloaded, narrowly avoided crashing into a Mercedes-Benz while attempting to overlap along a busy Nairobi road.
The matatus are registered under MCA Sacco and Expresso Sacco.
Flouting traffic rules and regulations can attract hefty penalties from the NTSA.
