Eng'iti
Elder Lister
Tenda wema nenda zako rewards.
Driver fired after reporting students smoking bhang gets Sh1.4m payout
By Purity Mwangi | Jun. 11, 2025
The driver of a 14-seater matatu who made headlines for reporting students who were smoking bhang and consuming alcohol has been awarded Sh1.4 million for unlawful dismissal.
Nyeri Senior Principal Magistrate Faith Munyi ordered 2NK Sacco to pay John Maina Muthoni his dues and issue his certificate of service within 45 days.
According to court documents, Maina told the court that he was employed by 2NK Sacco Limited as a driver from March 1, 2017, ferrying fare-paying passengers from various destinations to Nairobi. At the time of termination, he was earning a consolidated salary of Sh4,000.
He stated that on November 17, 2021, he was assigned to drive a 14-seater matatu with instructions to transport 12 fare-paying secondary school students from Karatina to Ruai.
The documents indicated that he began his journey from the Karatina terminus and, along the way at the Kibingoti area, noticed that the students were smoking bhang and consuming alcoholic beverages. He warned them, but they allegedly threatened his life.
Maina told the court that he then drove to Sagana Police Station, but the students jumped out of the vehicle through the windows and the main door.
The documents further stated that Maina made a report at the police station and notified the chairman of 2NK Sacco on November 19, 2021. He later returned to the Karatina bus terminus, where he worked as a stage controller.
He testified that an agent of 2NK Sacco verbally informed him that he was not to be seen at the said terminus and should report to the Sacco boardroom in Nyeri.
Maina said he complied, and the board’s chairman verbally terminated his employment, claiming he had brought "sheer disrepute" to the Sacco by reporting the students to the police.
He added that he had worked for the Sacco for five years and expected to be accorded due process.
His lawyer, Edwin Ndichu, told the court that the driver was qualified and entitled to remuneration as per the Regulation of Wages Orders of 2017 and 2018, which set the minimum wage for a driver at Sh21,942 and Sh23,039 per month, or Sh1,056 and Sh1,108 per day, respectively. He was also entitled to one rest day per week, which was neither given nor compensated.
Ndichu further told the court that Maina’s employer had not provided housing, paid a house allowance, or remitted statutory deductions.
He prayed for Maina to be paid his dues and awarded damages for the inhumane and unlawful termination.
In her ruling, Magistrate Munyi observed that the claimant alleged he was dismissed after reporting the matter to the Sagana Police Station.
“There are no minutes to show that the claimant was given a hearing. The reason given for the termination of employment was that the claimant had reported the matter to the police station. In my opinion, this was fair and/or valid,” she said.
Source: Standard
Driver fired after reporting students smoking bhang gets Sh1.4m payout
By Purity Mwangi | Jun. 11, 2025
The driver of a 14-seater matatu who made headlines for reporting students who were smoking bhang and consuming alcohol has been awarded Sh1.4 million for unlawful dismissal.
Nyeri Senior Principal Magistrate Faith Munyi ordered 2NK Sacco to pay John Maina Muthoni his dues and issue his certificate of service within 45 days.
According to court documents, Maina told the court that he was employed by 2NK Sacco Limited as a driver from March 1, 2017, ferrying fare-paying passengers from various destinations to Nairobi. At the time of termination, he was earning a consolidated salary of Sh4,000.
He stated that on November 17, 2021, he was assigned to drive a 14-seater matatu with instructions to transport 12 fare-paying secondary school students from Karatina to Ruai.
The documents indicated that he began his journey from the Karatina terminus and, along the way at the Kibingoti area, noticed that the students were smoking bhang and consuming alcoholic beverages. He warned them, but they allegedly threatened his life.
Maina told the court that he then drove to Sagana Police Station, but the students jumped out of the vehicle through the windows and the main door.
The documents further stated that Maina made a report at the police station and notified the chairman of 2NK Sacco on November 19, 2021. He later returned to the Karatina bus terminus, where he worked as a stage controller.
He testified that an agent of 2NK Sacco verbally informed him that he was not to be seen at the said terminus and should report to the Sacco boardroom in Nyeri.
Maina said he complied, and the board’s chairman verbally terminated his employment, claiming he had brought "sheer disrepute" to the Sacco by reporting the students to the police.
He added that he had worked for the Sacco for five years and expected to be accorded due process.
His lawyer, Edwin Ndichu, told the court that the driver was qualified and entitled to remuneration as per the Regulation of Wages Orders of 2017 and 2018, which set the minimum wage for a driver at Sh21,942 and Sh23,039 per month, or Sh1,056 and Sh1,108 per day, respectively. He was also entitled to one rest day per week, which was neither given nor compensated.
Ndichu further told the court that Maina’s employer had not provided housing, paid a house allowance, or remitted statutory deductions.
He prayed for Maina to be paid his dues and awarded damages for the inhumane and unlawful termination.
In her ruling, Magistrate Munyi observed that the claimant alleged he was dismissed after reporting the matter to the Sagana Police Station.
“There are no minutes to show that the claimant was given a hearing. The reason given for the termination of employment was that the claimant had reported the matter to the police station. In my opinion, this was fair and/or valid,” she said.
Source: Standard
