New details have now emerged after the National Transport and Safety Authority concluded investigations into reports that a passenger was allegedly stripped naked for not paying fare.
In an update by Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen, the said person was not a woman as indicated by social media reports.
The reports claimed that "the stripped woman was deaf" as the pictures circulated online.
"The information circulated on social media is distorted as investigations have not established a case as depicted in the media. The passenger in question is a male and not a woman," Murkomen said.
The CS said the male passenger was among 14 others who had embarked on a journey to Nairobi from Meru but when other passengers were asked to pay the fare, he was deep asleep.
Upon arriving in the city, the unnamed man was woken up but refused to pay the required amount and instead started undressing.
"On arrival at Nairobi Tea room, the matatu terminus, at approximately 10 am, the passengers alighted save for the male passenger who was still sleeping. On being roused up, he reportedly appeared confused and disoriented and did not pay the required fare.
"Police officers on patrol were informed as the said passenger started undressing inside the said vehicle. The officers escorted the vehicle and the passenger to Central police station, Nairobi, whereupon interrogation of the matter, it was decided that the said passenger be returned back to Meru as he appeared unstable," Murkomen said.
He added that the driver of the vehicle, registration number KCS 747L, agreed to return the passenger to Meru and handed him over to Meru Police Station where a report was recorded vide OB 105/18/05/2023.
A day later, the CS said he was released to go home as he appeared to have stabilised.
"From this interaction, it appears that the said passenger has some mental challenges and for this reason we have deliberately avoided sharing his pictures or his name and other personal details."
Following the widely circulated pictures and reports, Murkomen on Saturday ordered investigations into the alleged incident.
