This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
On October 4, 2019, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) made an unprecedented decision, choosing not to punish the crew of a matatu that was photographed driving on the wrong side of Lang'ata Road.
The authority's decision was based on an investigation that revealed the vehicle was rushing a pregnant woman to the hospital, as she was about to give birth.
Initially, a tweep had shared a picture of the matatu and tagged the relevant authorities, calling for it to be apprehended for breaking the law. However, NTSA came to its defense, citing the emergency situation.
According to NTSA, the vehicle had the 'blessings' of the traffic police manning the roundabout, and Mbagathi Hospital had confirmed the emergency situation through a letter.
This rare display of compassion from NTSA is a departure from the usual behavior of matatu operators, who are often accused of breaching the Highway Code, overlapping, obstructing other road users, and double parking.
