Telvin Mburu: Matatu tout who saved sick passenger reveals what inspired him to take the live-saving action
Rongai matatu tout Telvin Mburu, who captured the attention of many Kenyans after helping save the life of a female passenger, Viola Nekesa, who fell seriously ill while in transit en route to Rongai, has opened up.
Speaking to a local media station on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Mburu revealed that what pushed him to act quickly was a painful memory from his past, the loss of his mother, which he attributes to negligence.
“I was doing it out of goodwill because I lost someone very important to me due to negligence. I was never there to see that happen, but can you imagine being given a story that was basically your mum was sick and saying she was sick, but the people who were with her never bothered to take her to the hospital; she passed on while they were watching?” he narrated.
Fateful day
Narrating what happened on the fateful day, Mburu, who was going about his normal duties, said he was interrupted when Nekesa, a woman he had never met before, suddenly began experiencing breathing difficulties as the vehicle approached Nyayo Roundabout.
According to Mburu, Nekesa asked for fresh air and space moments before her condition worsened.
Without hesitation, Mburu alerted the driver, urging him to divert the matatu and rush the passenger to the nearest hospital.
The driver reversed the vehicle and headed to the facility, where Viola was admitted and received emergency treatment.
“During that incident when Viola was in the vehicle, she tapped me and told me to excuse her, saying that she needed free air. I opened the window for her. I told people to excuse her at the door, but when we were around Nyayo roundabout, she told me she could not breathe; she was shaking,” he said.
“I looked at her and imagined I lost one person because of negligence. I did not know her; it was my first time carrying her, but I could not leave her. Her condition showed she wasn’t going to be well soon. I felt I needed to do everything I could. I told the driver there is someone who is not feeling well, and we need to take her to the hospital. The driver had to reverse the vehicle and took her to the hospital.”
Mburu went on to say that he remained at the hospital to keep her company since she was in bad shape.
“When she was being attended to, I looked at her and said I could not leave because no one knew she was at the emergency, and I decided to remain behind with Viola,” he added.
Nekesa on Mburu’s kindness
Nekesa, on April 5, 2025, publicly expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the crew of a matatu that came to her rescue and likely saved her life.
“Hi, I would like to give appreciation to this Rongai matatu called Audiophile. Yesterday I was in town waiting for a bus to Rongai, and I was not feeling well standing outside Naivas. This matatu came, and I boarded it to Rongai since I knew I wanted to get home faster and seek treatment. On our way, I developed breathing complications, which got worse. The crew on board noticed and alerted the driver; the driver diverted the Matatu full of passengers to Nairobi West Hospital’s emergency wing, and the crew even carried me to the bed where treatment was administered,” she appreciated.
“Words can never be enough; one of the crew members stayed with me till the time I was referred to Sinai Hospital Rongai at midnight. He said his name is Telvo/Telvin, and the driver was Benson Kana. Thank you so much, Audiophile Expresso Sacco, for saving my life. I am currently doing better at Sinai. God bless you.”
