A matatu driver has been arrested in Nairobi after his conductor demanded fare from a plainclothes police officer who had boarded their vehicle.

The incident unfolded on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at Kenyatta National Hospital Police Station along Ngong Road when the officer boarded the matatu.

Eyewitness statements document that the conductor requested the officer to pay the standard fare like all other passengers but he declined.

A verbal altercation ensued in matatu which was ferrying passengers from Wanye estate to Nairobi city centre. It eventually escalated into a physical confrontation.

During the heated exchange, the officer argued that police officers were exempt from paying fares when using public transportation.

The conductor however countered by pointing out that the officer was not in uniform and therefore did not qualify for such an exemption.

As tensions escalated, the officer called for backup from his colleagues stationed at Kenyatta National Hospital Police Station.

ALSO READ: Matatu fares increase by 40% after hike in fuel prices

More officers arrived at the scene, including a police patrol car that happened to pass by during the confrontation.

This influx of officers prompted passengers who had become involved in the dispute to retreat.

Notably, the matatu conductor managed to evade capture, leaving the driver behind, who was subsequently apprehended.

The driver’s arrest unfolded in plain view of the public, with a video circulating online showing him crying and appealing for assistance while additional officers kept onlookers at bay.

In a concerning turn of events, the officers also confronted journalists who were covering the incident.

They demanded that the reporters delete their recordings before allowing them to leave the scene.