Drivers Of Viral Moneyfest, Ambush Matatus Fined Ksh50,000
The Kibera Law Courts fined each driver Ksh50,000 or six months imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to the charges.
Marvin Chege 
The drivers of the matatus plying the Nairobi-Rongai route which were impounded by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for flouting traffic rules have been fined Ksh50,000.
John Mwangi, the driver of Ambush, and Dominic Amaya, the driver of Moneyfest, were charged with operating unroadworthy vehicles along Ongata Rongai and Lang'ata in Nairobi.
The Kibera Law Courts fined each driver Ksh50,000 or six months imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to the charges. The case is set to be heard on January 20, 2025.
The move is part of ongoing efforts by the authorities to enforce stricter compliance with road safety standards and reduce accidents caused by poorly maintained PSVs.
The matatus caused outrage online after videos surfaced showing them being driven recklessly and at high speeds, with two men riding on top of them.
Speaking after the video sparked mixed reactions and prompted calls for action, the Sacco owners took responsibility for the incident, promising to take necessary measures against the drivers involved.
"On behalf of the investor and the Sacco, we take full responsibility for the driver failing to stop the vehicle and instructing the kamageras to get off the roof," one of the Sacco leaders stated.
The matatu owners condemned the incident and assured the public that stringent action had been taken against the drivers and conductors of the two vehicles.
"We are very remorseful, and we condemn the actions. We have already taken action against the driver and the conductors involved," they assured.
They clarified that the youths spotted on top of the vehicles and hanging on the doors were not employees of the Sacco but turn boys, commonly referred to as kamageras, who assist in onboarding passengers into the matatus.
In a separate video, one of the rogue matatus which appeared to be overloaded, almost crashed into a Mercedes Benz while trying to overlap along the busy Magadi Road.
The videos went viral with Kenyans expressing frustration and concern over the potential dangers rogue PSVs posed to the public.
NTSA issued an update clarifying that the two vehicles in the viral videos were impounded. They are registered under MCA Sacco and Expresso Sacco.
The Authority taking action on rogue matatus is nothing new. Similar action was taken against the owner, driver and conductor of the rogue matatu which was captured on video in December 2024 swerving recklessly.
The owner was arrested alongside the driver and the conductor of the matatu and were all charged after the video clip went viral on December 23, 2024.
John Mwangi, the driver of Ambush, and Dominic Amaya, the driver of Moneyfest, arraigned in court on January 10, 2025. /CYPRIAN NYAKUNDI
An image of a rogue matatu driver after being nabbed for swerving dangerously on a highway. /PHOTO
