Uproar as Matatu Caught on Camera Speeding With Unruly Students

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Commuters alight at Green park Terminus after NMS conducted a test run on Tuesday, April 27, 2021
File

A video of a vehicle carrying students shouting and blowing whistles through the window has attracted condemnation from members of the public.

In the video seen by Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, August 2, the students are blindly sticking their heads out of the windows of the speeding vehicle as they whistle and shout while the unbothered driver keeps driving. Some of the students have their school ties hanging from the window.

As the driver continued speeding along the busy Thika  Superhighway, other motorists tried to get his attention and alert him on the behaviour of the learners but he seemed unbothered.

Education CS George Magoha ddress the 2nd International Multi-Disciplinary Research Conference on Linking Research, Science Technology & Innovation with Development in Africa at Kabete National Polytechnic in
Education CS George Magoha addresses the 2nd International Multi-Disciplinary Research Conference on Linking Research, Science Technology & Innovation with Development in Africa at Kabete National Polytechnic on May 5, 2022.
Ministry of Education

When one of the motorists drive close to the PSV, the students briefly settle in their seats before getting unruly again.



A spot check by Kenyans.co.ke revealed that the vehicle was registered under Juja Salama Limited Sacco and operates along the Juja, Juja Farm, Thika (Makongeni), Weitethie, and Ruiru routes.  

According to reports from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) as checked by this publication, the Motor Vehicle Inspection (MVI) status of the vehicle expired on April 26 this year. 

"This was happening on a highway. I just imagined the risk. The driver assumed the other drivers were hooting. I asked myself despite the hooting, this man as a driver who might have a driver's license must be knowing the use of side mirrors," lamented Dianah Kamande a social entrepreneur who shared the video on her social media platforms.

The students are said to have been heading home following a decision by the Ministry of Education to abruptly close schools to allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct the August 9 polls.

Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha, ordered that students from all basic education institutions proceed on half-term break on Tuesday, August 2, and resume on Thursday, August 11. 

"Schools and parents are advised to ensure that learners from all basic education institutions proceed on their half-term break effective Tuesday, August 2, 2022, and resume on Thursday, August 11, 2022," Magoha directed.

Regardless of the matatu industry having a bad reputation, a driver ferrying students from a school in Nyeri took the bold step and reported their unruly behaviour to the police who then took action.

According to the 2NK driver, the students were allegedly getting intoxicated on their way home.

The students risked their lives by jumping out of the moving vehicle upon noticing that the driver was heading to a police station. Most of those who escaped left their luggage and bottles of liquor in the vehicle.

Indian police during a past operation
Indian police during a past operation.
Photo
Hindustan Times
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