By VoiceNews.africa Editorial Viral and disturbing Videos and images recently circulated on social media show the vehicle with visible damage, including broken side mirrors and dents,, raising public outrage online.
The public outrage online has led to the former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko voicing a strong condemnation over the alleged assault of a taxi driver believed to be in Nairobi.
Sonko has firmly described the incident as heartbreaking and a troubling reflection of rising intolerance and violence against ordinary workers.
According to reports and video clip voices, the ordeal unfolded after the driver ferried a group of women home following an alleged night out.
According to the clip, a disagreement is said to have arisen when the passengers declined to pay the agreed fare.
According to the circulated video, it sparked a conversation about what should have been a simple dispute, which allegedly escalated into verbal abuse and physical violence towards both the car and the driver as he demanded his rightful payment.
Sonko has police into action urging the authorities to act swiftly and decisively, not only to deliver justice to the victim but also to send a clear message that abuse and exploitation of service providers will not be tolerated.
“Let me tell you that, no disagreement whatsoever should ever escalate into violence, abuse, or the destruction of someone’s livelihood at all cost,” he said.
Sonko added, “It’s very clear that this is just a simple man who is a hustler, earning an honest living to support himself and his family. Taking advantage of him in such a cruel manner is wrong and unjustifiable at all.”
Sonko requested the authority, “The same authority used to arrest men who abuse women should be applied equally to apprehend those girls. That victim is someone’s father, someone’s husband, and someone’s brother, and his dignity and life matter just as much.”
He added, ‘’I have given those girls 24 hours to apologize, fix that car and pay the Uber driver his money. Shame on those girls.”
Sonko, in recent occasions has positioned himself as an advocate against gender-based violence (GBV), firmly demanding for a firm address to the recent attacks saying that there is need to address violence regardless of the gender of the victim or perpetrator.
“As a strong ambassador in the fight against Gender-Based Violence, I strongly condemn this act. Violence in any form whether against men or women must never be tolerated GBV is not selective, and justice must apply equally to all,” Sonko said.
The former impeached Nairobi governor released a firm statement denouncing the alleged assault, describing it as a blatant act of mistreatment against a Kenyan simply striving to earn a living.
“Why would anyone insult and assault a cab driver who safely took them home after sherehe? This is completely unacceptable and deeply disturbing,” Sonko said.
So far, it is still unclear whether the driver had formally reported the incident to any police station as well as the authorities had not issued an official statement regarding the incident.