A Nairobi court has fined matatu driver Donald Owuor Ndeda KSh 70,000 after he was filmed speeding off from traffic police along Valley Road, claiming he was rushing due to a sudden bout of acute diarrhoea.
The incident, which occurred on November 19, 2025, saw Ndeda driving a Ganya Sacco Isuzu minibus when a traffic officer signaled him to stop. Instead of complying, he sped off, prompting a short but dramatic chase that was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media, drawing both concern and amusement from Kenyans.
Ndeda faced multiple traffic-related charges, including reckless driving that endangered other road users, picking up passengers at an unauthorized location, ignoring police commands, failing to wear the mandatory PSV uniform, and missing a previous court appearance. In court, he defended his actions by explaining that the sudden health emergency left him with no choice but to flee.
The magistrate, however, rejected the unusual defence, noting that personal emergencies, no matter how pressing, do not excuse reckless behavior on public roads. After reviewing the evidence and considering the viral footage, the court imposed a KSh 70,000 fine, while warning PSV operators that endangering the public or defying lawful police orders would not be tolerated.
The case has sparked wider conversation about road safety and traffic discipline among matatu drivers, as well as the balance between personal emergencies and public responsibility. While Ndeda’s excuse drew laughs online, it also served as a stark reminder that life on Nairobi’s roads leaves little room for error.
