This archive report was first published on 17 May 2020.
On Friday morning, a driver of a matatu belonging to Latema Sacco in Kiambu County narrowly escaped death after being ambushed and attacked by unknown assailants while on duty.
According to eyewitnesses at Gachie bus terminus, the attack was allegedly brewed by continuous differences between Latema Sacco and its competitor, Ganaki Sacco.
Witnesses claim that the assailants pelted the bus with stones as the driver tried to navigate through traffic and escape the scene.
Police officers from the Gachie Police Camp intervened and quelled the attack, rescuing the driver.
Local resident Mary Kimani witnessed the incident from her balcony and described the scene as chaotic.
‘They pelted the bus with stones as the driver tried to navigate through traffic and disappear from the scene,’ she said.
Another witness, Victor Alfani, estimated that there were over 15 assailants who approached the bus from all directions.
Alfani attributed the attack to competition between the two sacco operators, with most passengers preferring to use Latema Sacco matatus.
‘It was miraculous that the driver managed to navigate through the bus under attack until the police arrived at the scene and charged at the assailants,’ Alfani said.
Fortunately, there were no passengers in the bus at the time of the incident, and the tout had been attacked before running for his life.
Ma3Route, a Twitter account that highlights motorists' experiences, called on the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to intervene and address the situation.
