Driver gets two-month jail term after conductor dies in fall from moving matatu on Thika Road

The driver, Paul Nyambuto Momanyi, had been charged with failing to ensure the safety of a passenger on board a motor vehicle, an offence under traffic laws.

The court sentenced him to two months’ imprisonment, with an option of a Ksh15,000 fine in lieu of the custodial term.

While delivering the sentence, Senior Principal Magistrate Thamara Irene said that although it is ordinarily the conductor’s duty to ensure the door is closed, the driver still bears responsibility to confirm safety measures have been observed before driving off.

The court noted that Momanyi only learnt the conductor had fallen after passengers shouted and demanded he stop.

In mitigation, Momanyi asked for leniency, telling the court he was a first-time offender and the sole breadwinner for his young family.

The court heard that on March 27, 2026, at Kastemil area along Thika Road, Momanyi was driving matatu registration KDM 246E when he failed to ensure the door was properly closed.

The conductor, Kenneth Kamau Kaheri, fell from the moving vehicle and died on the spot.

A post-mortem report produced in court indicated Kaheri died from injuries sustained after the fall.

The prosecution said traffic police officers visited and processed the scene before towing the matatu for inspection, and that an inspection later found the vehicle had failed to meet some compliance standards.