A disturbing video has surfaced online, showing a violent confrontation between a matatu conductor and a female passenger along the busy Ruiru route.
The footage, which has since gone viral, has ignited public outrage and once again spotlighted the growing tensions around digital fare payments in Nairobi's public transport system.
The altercation reportedly occurred on a matatu belonging to the Mataara Sacco after the female passenger allegedly refused to show an M-Pesa confirmation message to the conductor upon request.
In today's matatus, it has become commonplace for conductors to provide payment options via paybill, till number or Pochi la Biashara, yet some continue to rely on passengers for confirmation, lacking phones or the ability to verify transactions themselves.
The viral video widely shared on social media shows the woman and the conductor exiting the matatu amid a heated verbal exchange. The conductor, gesturing animatedly, appeared increasingly agitated as the woman pointed to herself and shook her head defiantly.
Moments later, she attempted to walk away from the escalating situation.
In a shocking twist, the conductor followed her and physically restrained her by the arm before pushing her repeatedly towards an oncoming matatu.
The woman stumbled, struggling to keep her balance as she was forcefully shoved. Despite the aggression, onlookers failed to intervene. The woman, clearly distressed, finally retaliated, sparking a full-blown physical brawl between the two.
The commotion drew the attention of a nearby female law enforcement officer, who rushed to the scene in an attempt to separate the two. However, the pair continued their scuffle even as she intervened. Bystanders soon joined in to help defuse the situation.
Eventually, both individuals ceased fighting upon realising the officer's presence. The conductor tried to explain his side of the story, gesturing animatedly, while the woman pulled out her phone, possibly to show her M-Pesa message and defend herself.
Online reactions have been swift, with netizens divided. One user remarked, "There's a reason Safaricom sends two messages, one for the sender, one for the receiver. Everyone should check their own phone."
Another added, "Respect people's work. This drama could've been avoided by just showing the message."
