The matatu crew of a public service vehicle (PSV) attached to the Super Metro Sacco has received praise online after rushing a pregnant woman who was delivering her baby on the side of Ngong Road to the hospital.
In several clips posted online, the matatu driver, identified as Baba Ian, was said to have picked up the woman and quickly diverted the matatu to a nearby hospital, with its passengers in tow.
"A woman almost gave birth on the side of the road; the driver diverted and went with all the passengers. His name is Baba Ian. He has taken her to Saitoti (hospital). Why have you not reported that?" the camera person quipped.
This comes even as the matatu sacco has been facing negative publicity over frequent accidents and consequential bans by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
In the same clip, another motorist was heard praising the efforts of the matatu driver and the passengers, narrating witnessing the crew step in to help the woman.
"God bless you, Super Metro. We are now almost at Saitoti with the mother and the baby who was delivered at a bush in Nyika in the vehicle. We saw her, and the driver got out to help her. God bless him and the passengers who went along," she narrated.
Although no details have been unveiled on where the matatu was heading, the Saitoti Hospital is located in Kajiado County.
Confirming the incident, Super Metro took to social media, posting, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. A fabulous weekend ahead of you all.Thank you."
Over two years ago, on February 12, 2023, another Super Metro was hailed by passengers after a ride on one Sunday afternoon turned out to save the life of an unborn child and its mother.
"It was on a Sunday afternoon; I was heading to Thika, and so I picked up the lady and her friend at the Sewage area, along the Thika Superhighway at around 3:00 pm. Instantly, I noticed through the CCTV on the bus how she was in pain and kept moving around," the driver told Kenyans.co.ke.
"Instead of going to Thika, I enquired from the passenger seated next to me about the nearest general hospital, which was Thika Level 5 hospital. So I decided not to drop off any passenger en route to Thika, but head to the hospital straight."
Although the industry employees can be unruly and unforgiving, several other kind-hearted drivers and conductors have been hailed as heroic for their split-second decisions that have often saved lives.
Most recently, passengers aboard an ENA Coach bus from Nairobi to Nyamira and Kendu Bay assisted a woman in delivering her baby after she went into labour mid-journey.
"I was lucky to be in one of the buses that carried a passenger. We successfully delivered the baby our way in Nairobi. The bus left Nairobi around 7:30am. On reaching Ngara just on top of the flyover,” the coach's social media manager told Kenyans.co.ke.
