Tout Sentenced for Damaging Matatu Side Mirror in Sh100 Dispute

A tout who vandalized a public service vehicle’s side mirror valued at Sh400 during a disagreement with the driver and conductor over a Sh100 fee for picking up passengers at a PSV stop in Dandora, Nairobi, has been sentenced to three weeks in jail.

However, he can avoid imprisonment by paying a fine of Sh400.

Andrew Njoroge, employed as a tout assisting matatus in loading passengers at a Dandora bus stop, confessed to the charge of malicious damage before Senior Principal Magistrate Hellen Okwany of Makadara Law Courts.

Njoroge admitted to damaging the side mirror of Joseph Theuri Mwangi’s vehicle on September 16th.

According to the court’s findings, at approximately 5 a.m., Mr. Mwangi stopped at the stage where Njoroge typically worked to pick up passengers when the convict demanded Sh100 for allowing the pick-up.

Mr. Mwangi had previously agreed with his conductor, Peter Ondari, not to give any money to Njoroge.

In response, Njoroge grabbed a stone, shattered the side mirror, and issued a warning, instructing them never to collect passengers at that location again, threatening repercussions if they did.

Subsequently, Mr. Mwangi proceeded to the town center and later reported the incident at Dandora Police Station, leading to the arrest of Mr. Njoroge.

During mitigation, Njoroge informed the court that he had offered to compensate for the damage he had caused, but Mr. Mwangi declined, insisting on his imprisonment.

He also revealed that his wife had sent Sh1000 to the complainant, which was returned. The convict pleaded for leniency, citing his responsibilities as a family man. He has a 14-day window to file an appeal.