Passenger dies inside a matatu in Machakos

A 52-year-old passenger has died in a matatu on the Machakos-Koka route.

Police said Peter Kioko Wambua, was unresponsive when the matatu conductor went to wake him up to inform him he had reached his destination.

The deceased had boarded a matatu in Machakos town headed to the Kamuani area, which is his rural home on Saturday, May 26 evening, police said.

He informed the conductor he would alight at the intended destination and paid his fare.

He also asked the conductor to alert him when they arrived at Kamuani.

In an hour, the matatu had cruised to the destination and the conductor as asked, shouted saying those intending to alight at Kamuani should do so.

He told police he realized the passenger was sleeping and was not waking up.

The conductor walked to where the passenger was seated and tried to wake him up in vain as he could not respond.

He said he sought assistance from another passenger to assist him to alight from the vehicle but realized he was dead.

Police were called and arrived at the scene and found the body lying on the roadside where it had been placed.

His family was contacted and rushed to the scene and identified him, police said.

They said he was residing in Nairobi and had contacted the mother on Saturday morning requesting for fare to come home since he was sick. It is not clear what he was ailing from.

Two sachets of medicine were recovered from his shirt pocket, police said.

The body with no visible physical injuries was moved to Machakos Level Five Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem examination.

Meanwhile, a team of police officers acting on a tip-off intercepted and arrested a suspect who was found in possession of nine rounds of live ammunition within Karantina Village, Marsabit.

The suspect was identified as Galgalo Abdub, 32.

He is under probe for illegal possession of the bullets.

Elsewhere, a police officer was arrested on suspicion of being involved in a shooting and robbery incident in Mbale, Vihiga County.

The constable of police attached to Nyawara Police Post within Siaya County was arrested Sunday following the incident reported on April 14, 2024.

Investigations into other cases related to the arrested police officer are ongoing, police said.