A video of Money Fest, George Ruto’s matatu having run out of fuel is doing rounds on social media. Money Fest ran out of fuel along a busy road. Why did conductors push Money Fest? The controversial matatu, which has made headlines for the wrong reasons several times, recently switched to Embakasi from Ongata Rongai. The PSV underwent refurbishment for a few days before hitting the road again. Matatu operators along the route, which also had George’s other matatu, Matrix, admitted that Money Fest’s entry caused jitters. However, the vehicle has met an unprecedented challenge, running out of fuel with passengers on board. A video doing rounds online showed the vehicle being pushed along a busy road by the touts. They entered a petrol station, a clear sign that they had run out of fuel.
The young men recording the scene could not believe that the vehicle did not have fuel since the owner was affluent. “How can Money Fest run out of fuel? Now it’s being pushed into the petrol station. What is this?” they wondered. The video elicited amusing reactions from Kenyans _.tajwa.r: “Return that tractor to Rongai. You cannot embarrass Embakasi.” Unitedliv: “Money Fest has been infected.” trevoh_lel: “Money Fest is being pushed? Taxes will increase.” mwangi_st3: “The driver is a joker.” Jumakevince: “The conductor and driver will lose their jobs.” jus_walter: “The government has no money.” Is Money Fest Kenya’s most controversial matatu? Soon after hitting the road, the matatu stirred controversy after reports emerged that it was not registered by any Sacco and did not have mandatory certification by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). George eventually bowed to pressure and took it to NTSA for inspection.
However, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Money Fest and another Ongata Rongai matatu, Kratos, were filmed overlapping while competing for passengers. Money Fest was seen being driven with two young men sitting at the top. While approaching the Maasai Lodge stage, the vehicle broke another traffic rule by using the wrong lane. Concerned Kenyans tagged NTSA on X, and the vehicle was impounded. Money Fest’s driver, Dominic Amaya alias Kinara and John Mwangi of Kratos were arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts, charged with driving unroadworthy vehicles, and pleaded guilty to the charges. They were fined KSh 50,000 or face six months in jail. A photo shared on Money Fest’s page showed the two drivers in cuffs at the court. They paid the fine and were released.
by William Osoro
