A digital taxi driver was stabbed to death in Nairobi's Kitusuru area following a dispute with a passenger. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has initiated a manhunt for the suspect. The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns for ride-hailing operators in the city.
Over the weekend, Kenneth Kimani Gachoka, a digital taxi driver, picked up a passenger at a petrol station in Westlands and transported him to Chrisco Christian Church in the Kitusuru area of Nairobi. Upon arrival, a disagreement escalated into violence, leading the passenger to allegedly stab Gachoka in the neck.
Despite the severe injury, Gachoka managed to escape the scene and contacted his colleagues for help. They rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Before succumbing to his wounds, Gachoka described the attack to his colleagues, recounting how the passenger had become violent during their confrontation.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) responded promptly, visiting the site and impounding Gachoka's vehicle for examination. The driver's body was transferred to a mortuary awaiting autopsy results. As part of the probe, investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from the Westlands petrol station to identify and locate the suspect.
The DCI has appealed to the public for any information that could aid in capturing the perpetrator, emphasizing the ongoing manhunt. This tragic event underscores the risks faced by gig economy workers in urban Kenya, where disputes can turn deadly without warning.