Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, denied reports that a matatu crew stripped a female passenger for refusing to pay matatu fare from Meru to Nairobi.
In a statement dated, Monday, May 22, Murkomen disclosed that investigations conducted by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) established that the passenger was not undressed as widely reported. Also, he was a male passenger, not a female, as earlier claimed.
Murkomen explained that the passenger boarded a Nairobi-bound matatu in Meru and reportedly fell asleep immediately after the journey commenced.
Others paid their fare, but the passenger remained asleep till Nairobi at Tea Room Matatu Terminus, where he was woken up by the crew and instructed to pay.
However, NTSA reported that the passenger appeared disoriented and started undressing, prompting the matatu crew to inform the law enforcement officers on patrol in that area.
"Police officers on patrol were informed as the said passenger started undressing inside the said vehicle," the statement read in part.
"The officers escorted the vehicle and the passenger to Central police station, Nairobi, where upon interrogation of the matter, it was decided that the said passenger be returned back to Meru as he appeared unstable," it added.
According to Murkomen, the passenger was handed over to Meru Police Station, where he was interrogated as he appeared to have stabilised. Further reports filed at Meru Police Station established that the male passenger had underlying mental issues.
Following the investigations, the passenger was allowed to return home amid further probe into the matter.
"As a Ministry, we take seriously cases of safety and dignity of passengers, and we thank all those who take the time to report such matters," Murkomen insisted.
The matatu company had defended itself on allegations of stripping the passenger earlier, blaming its competitors for spreading the misinformation.
They, however, welcomed the decision by NTSA to investigate what transpired to save its business model from going under following the case, which went viral on Friday, May 19.
