A family in deep pain is asking authorities to move quickly after a young man lost his life in a tragic incident involving a public transport vehicle.
The man, identified as Joseph Mureithi, was only 25 years old and was trying to get home after a long day at work when the incident happened.
According to his family and witnesses, Mureithi boarded a bus operated by Super Metro on Tuesday night. He had just finished his shift as a petrol attendant in Athi River and was heading home to Mlolongo.
Witnesses say he boarded the bus along the Kitengela–Namanga Highway near Shalom Hospital at around 11pm.
The bus was reportedly travelling from Kitengela toward Nairobi.Passengers on the bus say it was overcrowded and that the crew appeared disorganised and confrontational.
Not long after the bus left the stage, chaos allegedly broke out inside. Less than a kilometre into the journey, Mureithi was reportedly pushed out of the moving vehicle.
Witnesses further allege that after he fell onto the road, the same bus ran over him before speeding away, leaving him badly injured by the roadside.
One witness, Juma Otieno, described what he saw, saying: “Aliingia kwa gari, gari ikatoka. Kufika pale chini ndio ni kama msukosuko ikaanza na huyo kijana akatolewa kwa gari akaanguka chini. Nilikuwa nafikiria ameanguka tu hivi hivi, kufika hapo kumbe ameanguka na kichwa ikapasuka.”
Another family member, Patrick Muthomi, spoke with pain and frustration about the incident. He said: “Badala ya kurusha mtu nje, afadhali umwambie hii pesa haitaweza, kaa nje ungojee gari next. Kijana wetu sasa ametuwacha namna hiyo, na alikuwa ametoka tu kazi vizuri akapanda matatu imfikishe Mlolongo. Wakafanya tu kumrusha nje, wakapitia juu yake na wakakimbia hawataki kujua.”
After the incident, a standby patrol vehicle from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations intervened.
Detectives pursued the bus and managed to stop it. The vehicle, registration number KDK 060H, was later impounded and taken to Athi River Police Station.
The driver and conductor were arrested and are currently in police custody as investigations continue.
Muthomi also shared how much the deceased meant to his family, saying: “Huyo ndio alikuwa first born…ni yeye alikuwa anafanya kazi at least analipia mama yake rent na anasaidia kijana mdogo mwenye ako nyuma yake. Naomba kama serikali inaweza tuangalia.”Mureithi was rushed to Shalom Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
His family says he had recently secured his job and was working hard to help pay his mother’s hospital bills.
An autopsy is scheduled to be carried out on Thursday as detectives ask witnesses to come forward with any information that may help clarify what exactly happened.
The management of Super Metro has expressed regret over the incident, stating that they are still trying to understand the events before and after the tragedy.
The family remains in mourning and is calling for justice, hoping that those responsible will be held accountable for the loss of a young life that ended far too soon.
