In a surprising turn of events, John Muthoni, a former driver for the 2NK Shuttle Sacco who made headlines in 2021 for taking rowdy students to a police station, has been ordered by the Nyeri Magistrates Court to pay Ksh 233,000 to his former employer as damages.
The incident that brought John Muthoni into the public eye occurred in November 2021. While ferrying students from Karatina, Nyeri County, to Nairobi, Muthoni noticed the students engaging in illegal activities, including substance abuse.
Unable to control the situation, he decided to drive the students to the nearest police station in Sagana1. This decision, although made with good intentions, led to some students jumping out of the moving vehicle, creating a chaotic scene.
Following the incident, Muthoni was dismissed from his job at 2NK Shuttle Sacco. He subsequently filed a lawsuit against his former employer, seeking compensation for what he claimed was unfair dismissal. However, the court dismissed his case and instead ordered him to pay Ksh 233,000 to the Sacco for damages.
The Nyeri Magistrates Court found that Muthoni’s actions, although well-intentioned, had brought negative publicity to the Sacco. The court ruled that his decision to involve the police without consulting his employer first had caused reputational damage to the company1. As a result, Muthoni was ordered to compensate the Sacco for the losses incurred due to the incident.
Muthoni has expressed his disappointment with the court’s decision and has called on Kenyans of goodwill to help him raise the amount to avoid imprisonment. He emphasized that his actions were driven by a desire to ensure the safety of the students and maintain order during the journey.
The public reaction to the court’s ruling has been mixed. While some sympathize with Muthoni and commend his actions to protect the students, others believe that he should have handled the situation differently.
The case has sparked a broader conversation about the responsibilities and challenges faced by public service vehicle drivers in Kenya.
