Striking Malindi Matatu Operators Attacked by Alleged Goons

Drama and mayhem erupted in Malindi on Saturday after a protest by matatu operators turned violent, leading to people sustaining injuries and destruction of property.

The demonstrations began as a blockade outside the Malindi municipal offices but quickly spiralled out of control, causing disruptions in operations and traffic for hours. According to the striking operators, the attacks by goons were allegedly incited by local politicians.

The protests took a turn for the worse after rowdy youth descended on the demonstrating matatu operators, resulting in a physical altercation between the two factions.

Footage seen by Kenyans.co.ke shows the youth attacking a matatu operator with sticks and other blunt objects as the fight ensued. The goons also caused damage to the operators’ matatus, breaking the windows and windscreens.

“The goons have come to damage our matatus. They have come to beat us up with sticks. Sadly, these goons who are youth that are familiar to us have decided to mete out such violence on us today,” the matatu operators decried.

Authorities claim that the youth carried political placards raising questions on the motive of the Malindi Matatu Owners Association (MMOA) demonstrations.

Officials at the Malindi municipal offices have argued that the demos were politically motivated. The officials claim the real motive behind the demos was the removal of the office of Silas Ngundo, the manager of the municipality. 

“It was some kind of incitement that was not related to the affairs of the matatu operators. The matatu operators have just been used as some kind of catalyst,” stated Dadu Chome, the Malindi sub-county administrator.

“We believe that the protests are politically motivated. Majorly, they are linked to a clamour to reinstate into office Silas Ngundo, the former manager of the municipality. The chairman of MMOA admitted that the protests were not linked to the matters of the association,” he added.

Other politicians have pointed an accusing finger at local politician Hafswa Homeni for inciting the matatu drivers to protest for Ngundo’s reinstatement. The leaders have called for political tolerance, saying that Hafswa had ulterior motives in the matter.

Silas Ngundo has been in a long-standing legal battle with his employer and was recently handed a lifeline by the Labour and Employment Court, which disputed his dismissal. However, only the governor of Kilifi has the authority to appoint or redeploy senior county officials. 

At the same time, Malindi Sub-County Police Commander Jos Mudavadi stated that the police were conducting investigations into the matter.