The High Court has ordered the popular Super Metro matatu Sacco and a bus owner in the Sacco to pay a passenger Sh. 420,000. The money will be paid to compensate Wairimu Muthoni Wachira who was kicked out of a matatu under the Sacco about six years ago.
In its findings, the High Court ruled that the Super Metro Sacco and the bus owner Ezekiel Njuguna Ngure were liable for the actions of the crew that was employed to operate the matatu.
“Considering the indignity the petitioner (Wairimu Muthoni Wachira) was subjected to, being thrown forcefully from the bus, losing her property, being repeatedly slapped in public until she bled, it is my considered view that compensation to the tune of Sh. 420,000 is fair and reasonable,” ruled High Court judge Lawrence Mugambi.
“Matatu Saccos were introduced to ensure accountability to the public and the Sacco must take responsibility for the poor service and harassment of the members of the public by crew under their management.”
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According to court papers, Wairimu Muthoni Wachira was assaulted by the matatu crew on August 7, 2018. The crew included the matatu conductor and the bus driver. Apparently, she had protested after the bus changed course. She demanded to alight and asked for change. The conductor refused. She told the court that she had paid Sh. 1,000.
“The driver stopped the bus, came to the passenger cabin, and joined the conductor in pushing her from the bus. [This caused] her to fall outside the bus after [she was] trapped by the metal bar at the exit door,” court filings show.
“[The driver and the conductor] followed her outside where [they slapped her] until she started bleeding.” The filings further noted that the crew threw her belongings at her before speeding off. Wairimu Muthoni Wachira said that she would later realize that some Sh. 80,000 that was in her bag was missing after the ordeal.
