NAIROBI, Kenya, May 23 – Investigations by the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) on an unidentified passenger who is alleged to have been stripped naked by the matatus crew has been concluded.
Revelations of the investigation have detailed that the said passenger was not an unidentified deaf woman but a mentally unstable male individual.
In his statement on Twitter, Transport and Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen dispelled claims that the passenger was forcefully undressed saying he undressed himself.
“From the above facts, the information circulated in social media is distorted as investigations have not established a case as depicted in the media. The passenger in question is a male and not a woman,” Murkomen tweeted.
The investigation report shows that the passenger in question had boarded a matatu from Meru to Nairobi at 3.30am.
The passenger had not paid his fare during the whole journey as he was fast asleep.
When the matatus arrived in Nairobi the passengers alighted save for the male passenger who was still sleeping.
“On arrival at Nairobi Tea room, matatu terminus at approximately 10am, the passengers alighted save for the male passenger who was still sleeping. On being roused up, he reportedly appeared confused and disoriented and did not pay the required fare,” said Murkomen.
Murkomen mentioned that soon after the passenger started to undress, which prompted the matatus crew to call the police officers on patrol following the unfolding.
“The officers escorted the vehicle and the passenger to Central police station, Nairobi where upon interrogation of the matter it was decided that the said passenger be returned back to Meru as he appeared unstable,” Murkomen stated.
The driver of the said matatu is said to have proceeded back to Meru with the passenger and handed him over to Meru Police Station.
The following day the subject person proceeded home as police stated that he had stabilized.
“From this interaction it appears that the said passenger has some mental challenges and for this reason we have deliberately avoided sharing his pictures or his name and other personal details,” Murkomen stated.
“These findings have been shared with Meru police for further follow up of the matter. As a Ministry, we take seriously cases of safely and dignity of passengers and we thank all those who take the time to report such matters,” he added.
