In a shocking incident that sheds light on the vulnerability of online taxi drivers, Ms Lilian Njeri Njuguna has opened up about her harrowing experience at the hands of a Nigerian national who allegedly assaulted her after refusing to pay his fare.
Speaking exclusively to Nairobi News, Ms Njuguna recounted the distressing events that unfolded on Friday, August 29, 2023, in the Mlolongo Area.
The evening began like any other for Ms Njuguna, who uses the online cab-hailing app Uber, who received a ride request from a client at La-Jolla Apartment.
The client, later identified as Christian, required transportation to Viraj International Academy.
However, what should have been a routine ride took a dire turn when Christian paid only Sh100 of the Sh210 fare upon arrival at the destination.
Narrating the ordeal, Ms Njuguna explained that following this, Christian allegedly appealed to her claiming he needed to retrieve the remaining amount from his residence.
She patiently waited for over ten minutes until Christian returned, but shockingly, he informed her that he did not have the outstanding balance with him.
Christian’s solution was to request a return trip to the pickup point to settle the fare properly.
However, as the ride back unfolded, a horrifying sequence of events transpired. “Approximately 1 kilometer to the pickup point, he hit me on the back of my head with a stone,” Ms. Njuguna recounted.
When she turned to face him, Christian allegedly continued his violent assault, repeatedly striking her with the stone.
“As I turned to look back he hit me again the second, third, and fourth time, so I lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a wall,” She said.
The brutal attack left her disoriented and caused her to lose control of the vehicle.
“Before long, I tried to control the car went back on track he continued hitting me on the face and I lost control again,” she said.
Ms Njuguna’s account revealed that her efforts to regain control were met with more aggression. Christian continued to strike her, this time targeting her face. The struggle led to the vehicle veering off the road and landing in a ditch.
As the car came to a stop, Christian reportedly crawled out and attempted to flee the scene. However, alert bodaboda riders nearby quickly pursued him.
The intervention of the police saved Christian from an angry mob that had formed in response to his alleged assault on Ms Njuguna
They arrived in time to defuse the situation and took Christian into custody. Nairobi News has established that the matter was reported at the Mlolongo Police Station and recorded under Occurrence Book (OB) number 91/25/08/23.
Ms NjUguna now says that all she wants is justice.
This shocking incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for enhanced safety measures and awareness within the ride-hailing industry.
