The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Tuesday, May 23, honoured a Nairobi driver and his tout for rerouting their matatu to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to help a passenger deliver safely.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, NTSA Head of Communications, Dido Guyatu, noted that the driver, Wilfred Onduse, and his tout, identified as Intabo, were awarded commendation letters by the authority's Director General George Njao.
The duo attached to Krismoh Trans Sacco, popularly known as K-Trans, exemplified all servant leadership virtues.
"As an authority, we were inspired by the noble and selfless actions of Mr Onduso and Mr Intabo, the crew members of the Krismoh Trans Sacco.
"Their actions exemplified all the virtues of servant leadership and demonstrated the highest level of compassion," stated Guyatu.
The two were also reportedly rewarded with mobile phones by their Sacco and other undisclosed goodies for their heroic act.
The Heroic Act
Onduse and Intabo interrupted their public service vehicle's journey to the Ngong area after the health condition of the expectant woman deteriorated mid-journey on Friday, May 19.
The driver told the press that the woman boarded the vehicle at the Kenya Railways stage at around 1:30 pm while appearing unwell.
Mid-journey, the conductor informed him that her condition had deteriorated, prompting him to change his destination.
"At AGIP, the conductor told me that the woman was sick and was in pain and needed medical attention. I then instructed the conductor to alert the traffic police so that the vehicle is given way and the cops did just that," he stated.
The matatu arrived at KNH and was directed to the emergency unit, where doctors were alerted of the incident and attended to her in the vehicle before transferring her into the facility, an act that earned the driver praise from Kenyans.
"These are the individuals who need to be given presidential commendations. Such a bold act," Kiathy Vickie advocated for the duo.
The commendation letters raised Onduse and Intabo's statures within the matatu industry.
