A photo showing children crammed inside the trunk of a 14-seater matatu has triggered an uproar and elicited debate among Kenyans.
Commenting on the matter online, Kenyans questioned why traffic officers did not intervene despite the clear indication that the vehicle was already full. It was not immediately whether the children were traveling with their parents.
A spot check conducted by Kenyans.co.ke revealed that the public service vehicle plies the Njoro-Molo road.
The matatu's capacity had been exceeded, raising concerns about the children's safety in the event the door accidentally opened. Kenyans wondered how the trunk was initially locked and why the PSV operators would engage in such risky and unlawful behaviour.
"The worst is that these vehicles do not have emergency exits. How safe are these children when it comes to bumps or in case the driver hits the emergency breaks," one questioned.
Others questioned why parents would allow their children to be bundled in the trunk. Some called for the arrest of the Sacco management, traffic police in the area, parents, and other passengers.
However, locals admitted that some matatus are notorious and known for carrying excess passengers and bypassing traffic regulations.
They further accused the traffic officers of abetting the risky behavior by receiving bribes of as low as Ksh50 from rogue drivers and touts.
Others tried to reason with the parents who may have been forced to ask their children to squeeze themselves in the trunk due to the high cost of living.
"Probably, the parents could not afford tickets for seats but they must travel altogether. It's sad and unfortunate. Hope they arrived safely," another remarked.
A similar incident was reported in 2019 where a woman was arrested for packing six children in the trunk of a saloon car. She was fined Ksh26,000.
According to the Traffic Act, if a public service vehicle carries more persons, baggage, or goods than its licensed capacity, it is considered an offense.
In such a case, both the driver, the tout, and the vehicle's owner are held responsible and shall be liable for conviction. The prescribed penalty includes a fine not exceeding Ksh20,000, with an additional Ksh5,000 fine for each person in excess of the authorized limit.
