Meet matatu tout who helped blind granny find her way in Nairobi’s CBD – VIDEO
The matatu tout who moved many Kenyans on social media for his kind gesture of helping an elderly woman find her way on the streets of Nairobi says it is his nature to help.
Speaking exclusively to Nairobi News on Wednesday, Mr Stephen Kiringa, a father of one, said he was compelled to assist the granny on realising that she needed help and no one was ready to help.
Mr Kiringa, who lives in Kinoo, narrated how it pained him to see the elderly woman was stranded by the road suffering.
“I saw an elderly woman along Waiyaki Way waving for matatu to stop. But none of the CBD-bound matatus stopped. In my heart, I felt compelled to help her although our matatu was full and there were no empty seats,” Mr Kiringa recounted.
Mr Kiringa, who works as a part-time tout for matatus registered with KMO Sacco that ply the Kangemi route, says he asked his driver to stop so that he could assist the old woman.
OFFERED TO HELP
“It was around 4pm in the evening and when I told my driver to stop, he cautioned me against picking her up since the matatu was full,” he says.
But Mr Kiringa was adamant and he told the driver that he would offer her his seat and if they get stopped by the police he would explain the situation.
The grandma, who is partially blind, was from the eye hospital near Kangemi and was on her way to her home along Jogoo road.
Luckily forMr Kiringa and his driver, they were not stopped by any traffic officers along the way. When they got to the city center, Mr Kiringa took her handbag to walk her to catch a Jogoo Road matatu.
But since the woman looked frail, he instead put her in a tuk tuk for the short distance
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Nairobi tout melts hearts after helping grandma find her way in CBD
Mr Kiringa went ahead and talked to the other tout of the Jogoo road matatu and even paid for her fare.
Unfortunately, he forgot to take the old woman’s phone number and is uncertain whether she got to her destination safely.
Mr Kiringa says he is only seven months into his part time job as a matatu tout, having previously worked as hawker selling sausages and eggs at Kangemi stage.
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION
In November 2016, he decided to seek employment as a matatu tout. He says he doesn’t earn match from his job and at times when no matatu is in need of his services he ends up spending his time at home.
Regardless, he says he appreciates the little he gets because at the end of the day his family gets something to eat. He however remains hopeful that some kind heart out there will one day help him get a better job.
Kiringa was brought up by a single mum who the Form Four leaver says is a great source of inspiration.
Asked how the last two days have been, he smiles and says people have been calling him and thanking him for what he did.
“People have been calling me since Tuesday after a woman posted my picture on social media. I thank everyone who has sent me something because my family will have something to eat for the next week even if I do not get work,” he says.
Kiringa’s parting shot to his colleagues is that they should remain patient and cultivate humility and respect for others.
“They should have self courtesy because it is the one thing that drives a person in life,” he says.
Stephen Kiringa can be reached on 0700686738.