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Reckless matatus cut short varsity student’s life


On Tuesday next week, 23-year-old Cecilia Njeri Gicheha was set to start her career at the snazzy Boma Hotel in Nairobi.

But instead, Ms Njeri’s family will be meeting to plan her burial. Her life was brutally cut short on Friday night by two selfish matatu drivers who were jostling for passengers along Moi Avenue.

The 23 year old University of Nairobi student was squashed to death by two matatus near Tuskys Beba Beba stage in Nairobi’s CBD.

According to eye witnesses, the student screamed when she was hit by the first matatu but the second one squashed her further.

SQUASHED TO DEATH

The incident happened as two matatus which ply the Kasarani-Mwiki route were trying to squeeze into a small space when one of them reversed and hit her before another squashed her.

A Good Samaritan who offered to take the young woman to the hospital was told to wait because the police insisted that both the matatus accompany them to the police station.

The matatu that crashed to eath which was detained by the police after the incident.
One of the matatus that crashed Cecilia Njeri Gicheha to death which was detained by the police after the incident. PHOTO | COURTESY

Eventually she was rushed to Guru Nanak Hospital by her friend and a Good Samaritan but unfortunately she passed away at around 10pm on Friday night.

When Nairobi News reached the MSL Mwisako management to establish what happened, we were told to go and look for the driver who was driving the matatu because the sacco doesn’t know what happened.

The Central Police Division OCPD Paul Wanjama said investigations are ongoing to establish what happened after which the two drivers will be charged in court if found guilty.

DRIVERS ARRESTED

The two drivers were arrested after the incident, but have since been released on cash bail and will appear in court on Monday.

Miss Cecilia Njeri Gicheha, popular known as Bianca, was an assistant chair lady of an interdenominational evangelist group called Truth Movement.

The young student was to graduate in December with a degree in hospitality that is offered at the university’s Utalii constituent college.

The police said that the matatus are notorious for taking short term insurance so that they can evade such responsibilities. The matatu which hit the student had an insurance which was due to expire on October 12, 2015.