Kenyans have both marveled and condemned an incident where a matatu escaped after engaging police cars in an over one-hour high speed chase.
A video recorded by George Ndungu made rounds online showing passengers in the matatu begging the driver to stop and let them out, while others screamed, scared for their lives.
Ndungu, who was in the matatu plying the Ngara-Ndenderu route on Monday, April 1, indicated that the chase began after the driver hit another Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and was flagged to stop by the police.
However, the driver sped away hitting makeshift police roadblocks at Ngara area. Immediately, the officers began chasing after the matatu.
George Details How Matatu Driver Escaped Police
According to George, the driver refused to let out the terrified passengers who as the chase continued, began screaming and begging the unreactive man behind the wheel.
He indicated that the driver drove the vehicle through Gachie area, took turns through corridors and narrow roads leading to residences and apartments.
After a while, the matatu made a maneuver into another corridor and the police car landed in a ditch. Soon after, the matatu made an escape and the police car was not able to catch up.
“We went through Gachie, took so many corners in between people’s homes and roads I had never thought cars would pass through. One of the police cars got into a ditch and the matatu driver managed to lose the police,” he said.
Later in Ndenderu, the driver asked the passengers to get out through the windows as the door had developed mechanical problems, bringing an end to the terrifying ordeal for the passengers.
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Reactions From Kenyans
In response, some Kenyans online condemned the police for engaging the matatu in the chase when all the records of the car were already recorded electronically.
According to X users Njeruh and Ronald, it was reckless and unprofessional for the police to endanger the lives of the 14 passengers instead of recording details of the vehicle including Sacco and number plate.
“Why couldn’t the police take the vehicle plates then apprehend the car the following day? They wanted to inconvenience the passengers after all. The matatu had 14 lives but the police decided to chase them regardless,” stated Njeruh.
“I think our police officers need restraining, what if it would have caused more accidents. A matatu has a number plate and the owner could have been called “Ronald added.
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On the other hand, users Baluck Mocha and Gwa Giff condemned reckless driving indicating that the driver endangered the lives of the passengers by making the decision to try and evade the law.
“This shows the dangers of drunk driving and the importance of following the law to protect innocent lives,” Baluck Mochas said.
“What kind of drivers are driving these public vehicles because this is crazy,” Gwa Giff stated.
