Passengers ‘arrest’ bus driver for speeding in night journey

Inside the bus in which passengers yesterday arrested the driver and handed him to police for allegedly driving recklessly. [ Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Passengers travelling from Kakamega to Nairobi “arrested” a driver who they accused of reckless driving and handed him to police.

The passengers forced the driver to stop the bus before handing him over to police.

The passengers who paid between Sh800 and Sh700 said their journey began in Kakamega on Sunday night. The bus was half full, but the driver picked more passengers along the way.

At Majengo, the driver is said to have ignored the passengers’ appeals to stop speeding.

“When we approached the steep road after Riat in Kisumu, I knew we were done,” said Maurine Odari, who boarded the bus at Majengo.

A group of passengers then went to the driver’s cabin to reprimand him. He then stopped at Mamboleo roundabout, where the passengers pushed him out of the vehicle and called the police.

Acted fast

“We had to act or perish. The driver seemed unfit to drive. We literally had to lift him from the driver’s seat,” said Harizon Wechuli.

The bus conductor fled.

Police arrived some few minutes past midnight and arrested the driver. The bus was impounded.

The passengers then had to walk to Mamboleo police station, where they waited for day break while others sought other means to travel to Nairobi. The bus was later towed to the police station.

In the morning, the suspect is said to have told police he was not driving the bus.

Police sources at the station said the suspect would be charged with reckless driving and endangering the lives of passengers. Police could not, however, ascertain whether he was drunk during his arrest.

Anderson Odak, the vehicle’s owner, said it was on the road without his knowledge and that it was supposed to be parked at a yard for a buyer to view it.

“We have already arranged how passengers will be transported to Nairobi but I have to sack the entire crew,” he said.