NTSA revokes NICCO Movers Sacco licence after death of KMTC student on Thika Road
The student, identified as 19-year-old Eugene Mutuku, died in circumstances that sparked public outrage after video footage appeared to show him being.
Eugene Mutuku, a 19-year-old KMTC Yatta Campus student who died after he was allegedly thrown from a moving matatu along Thika Road. (Photo: Courtesy)
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has revoked the operating licence of NICCO Movers 1 Sacco following the death of a Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) student in an incident along Thika Road last week.
The student, identified as 19-year-old Eugene Mutuku, died in circumstances that sparked public outrage after video footage appeared to show him being pushed from a moving vehicle.
Mutuku is reported to have been involved in a disagreement over an unpaid bus fare shortly before the incident, with the dispute said to have escalated moments before he was thrown from the vehicle.
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The matatu linked to the incident was later found abandoned in Nairobi’s Kariokor area.
Two Nicco Sacco managers were subsequently arraigned at the Makadara Law Court for allegedly aiding the driver and conductor of the vehicle evade arrest after the incident.
The move, NTSA said in a statement on Friday, came after what it described as “a thorough assessment” of the operator’s safety practices and compliance status.
According to NTSA, the assessment uncovered major weaknesses in management and safety supervision, adding that Sacco officials had effectively lost control of operations and failed to resolve critical safety issues.
“In its findings, the Authority observed that the Sacco's officials and management have lost control of the operation of their fleet, lack adequate safety protocols, and have not demonstrated any efforts to address major safety concerns,” NTSA said.
NTSA further warned that vehicles operating under the Sacco are in an unsafe condition and present a serious risk to other road users, citing broader safety concerns within the fleet.
“We also note that vehicles operating under the Sacco are unsafe and pose a danger to road users,” the agency said.
“For these reasons, the Authority has resolved to revoke Nicco Movers 1 Sacco's operator license and to cease operation with immediate effect.”
NTSA added that action will be taken against any of the Sacco’s vehicles found operating in breach of the revocation.
“Law enforcement officers are required to impound any NICCO Movers 1 Sacco vehicles found operating contrary to the revocation,” it said.