"Sio kusafe": Nairobi man asks Kenyans to pay matatu fare via fuliza after scare

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- A content creator known as Brisounds narrowly avoided what he believed was a robbery attempt after a matatu conductor allegedly spotted his KSh 13,000 M-Pesa balance

- The incident began when he showed the conductor his phone to confirm a KSh 100 fare payment and noticed the man scanning his balance

- Brisounds now urges Kenyans to pay matatu fares using Fuliza, saying the feature shields your true M-Pesa balance from prying eyes

A Kenyan content creator known as Brisounds is urging fellow passengers to pay their matatu fares using Fuliza, following a frightening experience in Nairobi that left him convinced he was being followed after a conductor caught a glimpse of his M-Pesa balance.

Recounting the incident, Brisounds said he had KSh 13,000 sitting in his M-Pesa account on the day in question.

He was seated inside a matatu and, when the time came to pay his KSh 100 fare, he unlocked his phone to show the conductor the transaction message.

Brisounds suspects conductor's uncomfortable behaviour

What he did not anticipate was the conductor's eyes drifting away from the payment confirmation and settling on his account balance.

Brisounds noticed the conductor scanning further up the screen and immediately felt uneasy.

As the matatu neared town, he informed the conductor of the stage where he intended to alight.

Shortly after doing so, he saw the conductor reach for his own phone and begin typing, which deepened his suspicion.

Brisounds turns to Parliament Road after suspicions

The moment he stepped off at his stop, he spotted two men nearby whose attention appeared fixed on him.

One was close, another positioned at a distance on the opposite side of the street. Trusting his instincts, Brisounds began walking along Parliament Road and advised other Kenyans that this particular route can offer some safety when you feel threatened in that part of Nairobi.

Despite changing his path, the two men continued to trail him from either side of the street.

He eventually ducked into a nearby bank and waited inside, though by that point he was already convinced he had been marked as a target.

Why does Brisounds now swears by Fuliza?

The experience changed how Brisounds approaches everyday transactions in public spaces.

He now treats Fuliza not merely as a credit facility, but as a layer of personal security.

When a passenger pays using Fuliza, the message displayed on the phone reflects a borrowed amount rather than a sitting balance, meaning anyone stealing a glance at the screen sees little of value.

His advice to Kenyans is straightforward: before you board a matatu and hand your phone to a conductor, consider whether the balance visible on that screen could make you a target once you step off.

Students using fake mpesa messages to skip paying fare

TUKO.co.ke also highlighted a story about the alarming trend of Nairobi matatu operators facing fare evasion as students present fake M-Pesa messages to avoid paying full fares.

This issue not only threatened the livelihood of conductors but also reflected a concerning shift in ethical conduct among young commuters, prompting a deeper conversation about accountability in the wake of technological advancements.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.