Police on Tuesday, October 10, confirmed they have launched investigations into an incident where a matatu tout was stabbed to death during a scramble for passengers along Tom Mboya street in Nairobi.
The two touts were persuading passengers to board two different matatus operating on the same Kasarani route, when the argument turned tragic.
The victim, identified as Jairus Nyutu bled to death after he was stabbed in the neck. The suspect fled the scene immediately after committing the crime as police continue to search for him.
“The argument which started as a normal disagreement over passengers turned violent as one of the touts grabbed a knife from a nearby hawker selling eggs and smokies and used it to stab his colleague,” read part of the police report.
READ ALSO: Nairobi matatu driver arrested for charging police officer fare
Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect involved has not been arrested.
“The fighting started at the Mwiki-Kasarani-Matatu stop along Tom Mboya Street before they ended up at the location where the stabbing occurred,” Bungei said.
Police recovered the murder weapon at the scene, as the body of the deceased was taken to the city mortuary.
The police boss acknowledged that fighting over passengers at different bus stations was common in the city, warning operators in the matatu sector against the vice.
He also advised matatu operators to avoid taking the law into their own hands but to always report cases to the police.
Bungei added that security officers on several occasions have assisted in solving disputes involving touts as he advised those in the matatu sector to observe discipline.
At the same time, he said officials of the matatu sacco are planning to hold a meeting to address the issues that affect their daily activities.
