New information has surfaced regarding the final moments of a 19-year-old Kenya medical training college (KMTC) student who lost his life after being thrown from a moving matatu along the Thika superhighway.
The deceased, identified as Eugine Mutuku, was reportedly traveling from Thika to Nairobi CBD on Friday, June 5, when the bus conductor allegedly threw him out near Garden City Mall over what is believed to be a Ksh 20 fare dispute.
According to Mutuku’s family, he had traveled to Nairobi a few days before the tragedy to begin his attachment at a health facility along Thika Road.
On the morning of the incident, Mutuku visited his elder brother, who then left him at the house before going to work.
“I gave him money for transportation. Before leaving for work, I received a call from a person identifying himself as Joseph,” stated Mutuku’s brother.
When he rushed to the hospital, the elder brother reported that Mutuku told him the conductor threw him out of the bus, refuting claims that the victim refused to pay the fare.
Following the incident, Mutuku was taken to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was complaining of severe pain in the moments before his death.
The KMTC student died hours later while receiving treatment. Before his death, he explicitly stated that his injuries resulted from being thrown out of a moving bus.
According to the family, Mutuku had cuts on his lips and a broken leg. He also suffered significant injuries to his abdominal area.
Police have launched an investigation and are searching for the driver and conductor suspected of involvement in the incident.
According to police, the driver and conductor continued their journey after the incident, then abandoned the vehicle in Nairobi’s Kariokor area and fled.
“The suspects have not reported the incident to any police station, and efforts to locate and arrest them are ongoing,” stated Nicolas Rono, Kasarani sub-county commander.
“So far, no arrests have been made; we are making progress in the investigation,” he added.
The bus involved in the incident has since been towed and is being held at Kasarani Police Station as investigations continue.