The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) issued an appeal to the public on Saturday, May 27, requesting assistance in tracking down a matatu after one of its touts manhandled a female passenger.

NTSA urged Kenyans to share the registration number of the public service vehicle (PSV) so that appropriate measures could be taken.

"Please provide us with the registration number of the vehicle," NTSA stated.

Prior to NTSA's response, a video of the incident had gone viral on various social media platforms, leading some Kenyans to call on the Ministry of Transport and other relevant stakeholders to intervene.

In the video, the tout accused the female passenger of not paying the bus fare. The confrontation escalated, resulting in the tout forcefully dragging the passenger out of the vehicle.

A law enforcement officer was present at the scene but initially did not intervene. However, he later attempted to intervene, although he failed to restrain the conductor. Despite the presence of the police officer, the tout disregarded his authority and proceeded to throw out the passenger's belongings. Other passengers watched helplessly as the passenger was forcibly removed.

The exact date of the incident was not immediately established. However, Kenyans called for prompt action from stakeholders, viewing the situation as a growing crisis in Nairobi.

Some online users suggested that the matatu industry should implement new measures to address issues related to noncompliance and passengers refusing to pay their fares.

Others urged fellow passengers to step in and prevent incidents like these from escalating, as an increasing number of commuters have been thrown out of matatus, resulting in deaths and severe injuries.

In May 2023, NTSA and the police apprehended a tout associated with Embassava Sacco who was accused of throwing a 17-year-old boy out of a moving bus.

Tragically, the boy succumbed to his injuries sustained during the incident along Outering Road on Wednesday, May 17. Following the incident, enraged residents set the Embassava bus ablaze.

"The Embasava conductor has been arrested and handed over to the police by NTSA in Nairobi. The police are expected to press charges against him," stated an official.

However, in response to the unfortunate event, the bus driver and the Sacco claimed that the passenger was reaching for his fallen phone and was not assaulted, as alleged.