Telvin Mburu, a matatu tout who helped save a woman's life after a medical emergency, engaged in a heartfelt moment with the woman that ended up in him shedding tears on live television.
While recounting the day's events on NTV’s Fixing the Nation show on Wednesday, Mburu received a pleasant surprise after the woman who, through his heroics, managed to live another day, dialed in to express her gratitude.
Mburu narrated how he was just going about his normal business during the rush hour on Friday, April 4, when a female passenger who was experiencing breathing complications alerted him to the situation.
For Mburu, it was an incident that hit harder as he lost his mother due to negligence, and thus, the call to help the woman was one that had a personal attachment. The aftermath of his actions resulted in netizens hailing him as a hero after the woman took to her social media to thank him and his fellow crew members.
“For me, I was just doing it out of goodwill. I lost someone so important to me due to negligence. I was never there to see it happen, but can you imagine being given a story that ‘ooh, your mum was sick, and she was saying she was sick, but the people who were with her, they never bothered to take her to hospital’?” he expressed.
“So during that incident, when the woman was in the vehicle, she tapped me and requested some assistance, saying she needed some fresh air. I then proceeded to open the window and requested some other touts who were by the door to make some space for her,” Mburu added.
However, when the matatu was approaching Nyayo roundabout heading to Rongai, the woman’s condition worsened. This is when the tout’s instincts kicked in, and together with the driver, the crew rushed the woman to Nairobi West Hospital, carrying her to the emergency ward.
Fast forward to today, the woman called the show, revealing that she was progressing well and was under bed rest. An emotional moment ensued, with Mburu shedding tears as the woman conveyed her appreciation.
“I lack words. I am so emotional right now, but thank you so much, Telvin. You have a good heart. Your actions, what you did for me – it was time for God to repay you. I am so glad about all that you have gone through and all that you are saying to us right now. God decided that it is your time (while referring to Mburu’s newfound fame)," she said.
“What you did (saving my life) is what God is now showing the whole world how innocent and kind you are. May you never go back. May you continue with that kind heart, and may He repay you in ways that we humans cannot understand,” she added.
By this time, emotions had run high at the studio with Mburu, and even the show’s presenters were seen experiencing high emotions and teary eyes. The woman expressed that the tout was the sole reason why her children still have a mother and why her parents still have a daughter.
Mburu’s heroics extended just beyond rushing the woman to the hospital, as he stayed with her, facilitated all the medical processes, and even oversaw her transfer to Sinai Hospital in Rongai. This was quite remarkable, as it resulted in him foregoing the day’s dues just to ensure the woman was in a stable condition.
Kenyans on social media praised Mburu and his crew’s selflessness and urged Mburu’s extraordinary show of humanity to be recognised even further.
Even so, Mburu maintained that kindness and humility have always been core values that he has always embraced, and assisting the woman was a no-brainer.
In what was a stark contrast to the perception of the matatu industry, where chaos and recklessness reigned supreme, Mburu’s quick thinking and kindness led to a moment of joy and escapee for Nekesa.
