Young Kenyan Worker Dies After Bus Crew Push Him From Moving Vehicle
Kitengela, 25 February 2026
Joseph Mureithi, a 25-year-old petrol station attendant, died after Super Metro bus crew allegedly pushed him from their moving vehicle on Tuesday night along Kitengela-Namanga Highway. The same bus then ran over him before fleeing the scene. Police arrested the driver and conductor after a swift chase by DCI officers. This marks another fatal incident involving the transport company, which faced similar allegations in March 2025 when another passenger died after being pushed from their vehicle over a fare dispute.
Fatal Sequence of Events on Tuesday Night
The tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, at approximately 11:00 PM when Mureithi boarded a Super Metro bus at a stage along the Kitengela-Namanga Highway, just metres from Shalom Hospital [1][2]. Having just completed his shift at a petrol station near Athi River, Mureithi was travelling to Nairobi when the situation rapidly deteriorated [1][2]. Witnesses reported that the bus was overcrowded and that crew members appeared chaotic and confrontational [1]. Within less than a kilometre of departure, the 25-year-old was allegedly pushed from the moving vehicle [1][2].
Witness Accounts Reveal Disturbing Details
Juma Otieno, an eyewitness to the incident, described the horrific sequence: ‘Aliingia kwa gari, gari ikatoka. Kufika pale chini ndio ni kama msukosuko ikaanza na huyo kijana akatolewa kwa gari akaanguka chini. Nilikuwa nafikiria ameanguka tu hivi hivi, kufika hapo kumbe ameanguka na kichwa ikapasuka’ [1]. The witness initially thought Mureithi had simply fallen from the bus, but upon closer inspection, discovered he had sustained a severe head injury [2]. Following his ejection from the vehicle, the same bus allegedly ran over Mureithi before attempting to flee the scene [1][3][4].
Swift Police Response Leads to Arrests
A Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Subaru patrol vehicle, positioned nearby, immediately pursued the fleeing bus and successfully brought it to a halt [1][2]. Police arrested two crew members - the driver and conductor of bus registration number KDK 060H - and impounded the vehicle, which was subsequently towed to Athi River Police Station [1][4]. The rapid police response prevented what could have been a complete escape by the alleged perpetrators, ensuring accountability measures could begin immediately.
Family Demands Justice for Breadwinner’s Death
Patrick Muthomi, a family member of the deceased, expressed the family’s anguish and called for justice: ‘Badala ya kurusha mtu nje, afadhali umwambie hii pesa haitaweza, kaa nje ungojee gari next’ [1][2]. Muthomi emphasised that rather than pushing someone out of a moving vehicle, crew members should simply inform passengers if their fare is insufficient and allow them to wait for the next bus [1][2]. The family revealed that Mureithi was the firstborn and primary breadwinner, working to pay his mother’s rent and support his younger sibling [1]. His recent employment at the petrol station was specifically intended to help settle his ailing mother’s hospital bills, making his sudden death particularly devastating for the family’s financial stability [1].
Pattern of Fatal Incidents Raises Safety Concerns
This tragedy represents the second fatal incident involving Super Metro within the past year, highlighting a concerning pattern of passenger safety failures [2]. In March 2025, Gilbert Thuo died after being pushed from a Super Metro matatu over a fare dispute of just KSh 30 [2]. Following that incident, driver David Nderitu Njambi was arrested, though the tout responsible escaped justice [2]. Preliminary investigations into the current incident suggest Mureithi was also pushed from the vehicle over a fare-related dispute [4]. Super Metro SACCO management has expressed regret over the incident and stated they are still gathering information before determining appropriate action [1][2], though the company’s response to previous similar incidents raises questions about the effectiveness of their safety protocols and staff training programmes.