Angry residents protest after bus touts hurl passenger in river over Sh10 fare in Eldoret

Eldoret, Kenya: Angry residents blocked the Eldoret-Kapsabet road for the better part of Saturday morning to protest over an incident where a matatu conduct heaved a passenger into Sosiani River for failing to pay demanded bus fare.

Two bus conductors alleged to be working for the Langas Twenty Matatu Sacco allegedly hurled Moses Ananda into the river for failing to add Sh10 to the agreed fare from the expansive Langas slums to Eldoret town.

The residents took issue with the conduct of the touts who hurled Ananda a middle-aged man into the river and asked the police to arrest the culprits who had been identified if the buses are to continue operating along that route.

"It is unfortunate that the touts who did this were not arrested immediately even after the public identified them, the only fortunate thing is that we managed to rescue the man who had been left for drowning by the rogue operators," said an angry Kevin Maasai.

Maasai who helped rescue Ananda said that if it was not for quick intervention, the victim would have drowned but was appalled with the pace at which the security agents were pursuing the matter.

It took the intervention of the area deputy governor Mr Daniel Chemno and police officers from Eldoret Police Station to have the road cleared by the residents who vowed to bar any movement along the route until justice is done.

"Kindly do not take the law into your hands, what has happened is unfortunate and we cannot allow it go unpunished," said Chemno who pledged to help ensure justice is pursued.

A shaky Ananda told The Sunday Standard that he boarded the bus in Langas and paid the usual fare of Sh20 but the touts demanded that he adds Sh10 which he refused.

"It is after an altercation that the bus immediately stopped and the two grabbed me and threw me over the bridge, before I could wink I was being carried away by water just to be saved by good Samaritans who threw me a strap to hold on to since I don't know how to swim," he said.

The residents further demonstrated to the County headquarters seeking to be addressed by the governor but all in vain.

"Many people have lost their lives at the Sosiani bridge point, earlier two people were murdered there by unknown assailanst but with today's occurrence we cannot rule out involvement by these rogue conductors," said Caroline Wamboi from Langas.

The residents called upon the matatu SACCOs to assess and evaluate the conduct of their drivers and conductors before employment to avert further similar incidents.