The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) have called on the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to effect necessary arrests and investigations after a female passenger was attacked by a matatu tout along Thika Road.
KEWOPA chairperson and Kajiado woman representative Leah Sankaire, in her address about the matter, condemned the incident and urged the police IG to ensure that investigations are done without any bias and that the culprit is charged with the applicable laws.
She also implored the authorities to investigate the operations of the matatu and ensure that the regulations include protection against criminal acts including Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the codes of conduct of staff operating public service vehicles.
At the same time, Sankaire urged Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators to recognize that disagreements are not an excuse to violate the rights of passengers.
She additionally called on PSV owners to educate their staff on the importance of respecting and protecting the rights of users of their services.
"KEWOPA further calls upon the 'BYBUSS LTD' and the Matatu Owners Association to take immediate action to address this incident including publishing a formal apology to the affected female passenger and the public, to hold the responsible individual accountable for their actions through dismissal," Sankaire said.
"It is the responsibility of service provider to ensure that all individuals are treated with respect, appropriate patience, understanding, and compassion noting that every individual has an equal right to use public services including public transport vehicles," she added.
KEWOPA presser on the human rights violation of the dignity of the female passenger along Thika Road by Bybuss Ltd. pic.twitter.com/OzCdVC9Fdc— KEWOPA (@KEWOPA) December 5, 2023
In the unfortunate incident that occurred on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, the matatu tout hit the lady to the ground after a disagreement over her agreed drop point.
Moments before that, the two were engaged in a verbal confrontation a few metres from the bus.
The lady was pleading with the tout to let her go but he instead hit her to the ground.
