This archive report was first published on 25 September 2021.
On September 5, 2021, a remarkable act of honesty took place in Thika, Kenya. Basilio Kimani, a 40-year-old matatu driver attached to Kandara Sacco Transporters, picked up an envelope and a laptop that a passenger had forgotten in his vehicle.
Concerned about the lost items, Kimani kept them safe and sought to find the owner. His actions would eventually earn him international recognition.
“On September 5, I had carried a passenger who boarded the vehicle at Blue Post-stage and sat with me at the front. When he alighted in Thika town, he forgot a bag which had a laptop, an envelope and a bag with food items,” Kimani recalled.
Kimani opened the envelope, hoping to find any form of identification, but only found Sh20,000. He took the items to his office and requested the staff to call him in case the owner came looking for their items.
Two days later, a woman and a young man came to the office inquiring about the laptop and the bag. Kimani was able to return the items to their rightful owner, a student at a local university.
The woman posted a photo of Kimani and the student on social media, thanking him for his honesty and kind nature. The photo circulated, with Kenyans praising Kimani and asking other matatu drivers and touts to follow his example.
International Leadership University saw the photo and decided to recognize Kimani for his good works. The university's vice-chancellor, Tim Kiruhi, said they chose to celebrate Kimani because he showed integrity, which is part of their vision and mission.
The university recognized Kimani with a plague of commendation and launched the Basilio Kimani Integrity Scholarship Endowment in his honor. They also committed Sh250,000 towards the fund, which will provide scholarships to needy students who portray honesty in their line of work.
