A matatu firm has been taken to court over the alleged assault of a female passenger.
In her case against Super Metro Sacco, Wairimu Muthoni claims that she was assaulted and robbed by the sacco's driver in 2018.
Wairimu has sued the Super Metro's director, the owner of the matatu Ezekiel Njuguna, Director of Public Prosecution, Attorney General and Inspector General of Police.
She argues that despite her reporting to the police, no action was taken against the sacco or driver who was operating the matatu KCH 434T.
According to her, the officer who was investigating the incident produced before magistrates court the wrong suspect, leading to the criminal case being dismissed.
Wairimu has sued alongside a human rights lobby. "I was assaulted and robbed by the driver of a public service vehicle operating under Super Metro Sacco and the 1st and 2nd respondents (sacco director and Ezekiel Njuguna) refused to compensate her for her loss. Due to improper investigations, the case was dismissed with orders issued for fresh investigations to be conducted," days Wairimu in her case filed before High Court judge Mugure Thande.
Wairimu narrates that on August 17, 2018 she boarded a Super Metro matatu to go to Stima Sacco, a financial institution in Parklands.
Her court papers read that she was carrying a handbag, a notebook and a phone. At the same time, she had slipped inside the notebook an envelope with Sh80,000 which she was going to deposit at the sacco.
At Ngara area, a short distance from the central business district, she realised that the bus was going to Thika Road instead of Westlands where she had intended to go. She then asked the conductor to allow her to alight. Wairimu alleges that she gave him Sh1,000 to deduct her fare but he refused to give her any balance.
"I refused to alight until I was given my balance. The conductor told me that they do not have any money to give her as balance and that no matter what I do not have power over them. The driver stopped the bus, alighted from the driver's seat and went to the passenger area. He grabbed me, shoved me out of the bus, hitting my leg against a metal barrier," she narrates.
According to Wairimu, the driver followed her outside and slapped and hit her until she started bleeding.
