Drama as Man Is Caught Allegedly Swapping M-Pesa Stickers in Matatu to Collect Fares

A man in Nairobi has allegedly been caught after reportedly replacing official M-Pesa payment stickers inside Ngong-bound matatus with his own number in an attempt to collect fares from unsuspecting passengers.

According to a post shared online, the man would board Ngong-bound matatus, remove the official M-Pesa stickers and replace them with stickers displaying his own number.

He would then alight from the matatu and wait for passengers to send their fares to the number he had displayed.

However, the incident reportedly came to light after the man was caught on Wednesday, September 10, with the post claiming that the alleged trick had been used on several occasions.

Man Confronted Over Alleged M-Pesa Scam in Matatu Ngong Road

A video circulating online showed the man seated on the ground as several people gathered around him.

According to the video, conductors confronted the man and demanded that he return the money allegedly collected through the M-Pesa number.

Also Read: Report Reveals Why Most Kenyans Oppose Government Control of Matatu Fares

The video also appeared to show the man being physically assaulted by members of the group during the confrontation.

The man could be heard repeatedly pleading with the group to forgive him as they questioned him about why he allegedly continued with the behaviour.

At one point, a voice could be heard saying, “Alipe tu pesa hii story iishe,” as the confrontation continued.

The man was also questioned about whether he would repeat the alleged act, and he promised to completely end the act of stealing.

“Utarudia? Utarudia hii ujinga tena? Si wewe ni mtu mkubwa?” one of the voices could be heard asking.

Kenyans React to Incident

The incident sparked reactions from social-media users, with some users describing the alleged scheme as an example of ingenuity being used for dishonest purposes.

Also Read: Matatu Death Culture Must End: Ban Touts, End Impunity, Save Kenyan Lives

Paul Nganga, a social media user, sarcastically referred to the alleged suspect as one of the “sharp boys” who turn to theft instead of working to earn a living.

“There will never be a shortage of sharp boys… they all need to survive.” Paul Nganga wrote on X

Another Kenyan claimed to have encountered a similar scheme in the past, stating that they had allegedly waited for money meant for cement before the owner discovered what was happening.

“We did this at a hardware after high school…muindi akagundua mapema. Nlikua nimengoja pesa ya simiti sio yangu,” Chief wrote on X.

Other users also reacted to the incident, with some calling for the man to be punished while others focused on the unusual nature of the alleged scheme.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates.

A screengrab showing the man being confronted by the mob following the alleged theft in Matatu M-Pesa payments. Photo/ File