Mbugua says that he delivered the matatu to Chado in October 2016 after his insurance company declined to underwrite the claim. The Schizzo had been involved in an accident and behind the wheel was a ‘not properly licensed driver.’
Ranjeet Choda aka Ricky, one of the directors at Choda Fabricators agreed to repair the matatu at Sh500,000. On March 15, 2017, Mr Mbugua paid Sh250,000 to ensure that the repairs commenced. It was going to take six weeks, he was told.
Ricky, rubbished the claims saying that ‘it was a minor fire which did not affect the engine and did not cause the vehicle to be unroadworthy. It was only the cosmetics which were burnt.’
Mr Mbugua says that the damages as estimated by Primedots Auto Valuers amounted to Sh2.3 million.
The Choda director also accused Mbugua of not paying up storage charges for a year, and their charges being Sh5,000 per day.
Elijah, who is now seeking justice says that the company stored the matatu for six months only (October 2016 to March 2017).
Responding to The Nairobian Defender, Ricky also pointed out that families whose loved ones had lost their lives in the accident had not been compensated and he (Elijah) was using the body builder as a scapegoat.
Read: 1,000 Traffic Marshals To Oversee Matatu Ban From CBD – Governor Sonko
Elijah has however not refuted the fact that people did indeed lose their lives in the accident, noting that ‘it is something I have to live with for the rest of my life.’
Mbugua also says that he has lost a significant amount of income since May, 2017 which amounts to around Sh2 million up to December 9, 2017.
Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com