By John Mutiso
A shocking incident unfolded in Dubai when a Kenyan cab driver was violently assaulted by a passenger while the vehicle was still in motion. The attack was captured on the car’s dash camera, and the footage, now circulating online, has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for accountability and swift action in response.
The driver has been identified as Brian Kiplimo, who moved to the Middle East just two months ago in search of better opportunities. According to reports, he first interacted with the passenger at around 5:58 a.m. on November 8, when the trip details were finalised. The passenger initially sat in the back seat, and a few minutes later, he shifted to the side directly behind the driver.
The dash camera footage shows the passenger leaning forward and placing his hands on the driver’s chest in an inappropriate manner, appearing to caress him from behind. When the driver refused and tried to stop the contact, the passenger allegedly became more forceful.
Reports state that the passenger made unwanted sexual advances and continued touching him despite clear resistance. As the driver tried to pull away, the man wrapped his arm around his neck from behind and put him in a chokehold. Kiplimo is heard shouting in distress and struggles to breathe. In response, the passenger tells him to “shut up,” and “you want to die?”
Desperate to survive, Kiplimo managed to force open the door and escape from the moving car. The footage shows him stumbling out onto the road in shock. The attacker then jumped into the driver’s seat and drove away with the taxi, leaving the injured man behind.
Anger And Demands For Justice
The video triggered strong reactions online from people who expressed shock at the brutality and spoke out in support of the driver.
A social media user commented, “This is absolutely disgusting. African nations need to take a stand and issue a strong, unified statement.”
Another said, “The attack on that driver is beyond unacceptable. A man simply doing his job was nearly killed because someone felt entitled to his body and his silence. The footage makes it clear this wasn’t a misunderstanding. It was a violent assault, and it should be treated as such.”
A person pointed out the stereotypes linked to such cases, saying, “Some people assume that trouble is mostly caused by Black individuals, but they don’t realise that many Black people work hard and still have to face unfair situations because of these stereotypes.”
“Thank God there was a camera recording – they would have accused the Kenyan of a very serious offence. I always encourage anyone to record almost their everyday interactions when in an environment where there is so much hate,” someone else shared.
“African leaders need to ban their workers from going to the Middle East. It’s nothing more than modern slavery. Extreme abuse has been so normalised that it’s expected to come with the job to be tortured,” read another comment.
Kenyan Driver Hospitalised And Family In Distress
According to Kenyans.Co.Ke, Kiplimo, was admitted to a hospital after the assault and is undergoing treatment. His family is deeply worried, not only because of his injuries but also because they are unsure how he can pursue justice under UAE law.
The report also notes that the family’s attempts to file a complaint with the cab company have yielded no meaningful response. Kiplimo is currently unable to leave Dubai, as his employer is holding his identification documents, including his passport.
According to his family, the incident has been reported to authorities in Dubai, but they have yet to receive any clear updates on the progress of the case.
