DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Kenyan taxi driver captured in a horrifying viral video being strangled by a passenger in Dubai has issued a desperate plea to the Kenyan government for evacuation. Brian Kiplimo, 26, says he fears for his life and is currently stranded without his passport or medical support after his employer allegedly abandoned him.
In an exclusive interview, Kiplimo revealed that his hopeful journey to the Gulf, which began only three months ago in August, has spiralled into a nightmare.
“I fear for my life following the threats that I have received, and all I want is to go back home. I can pursue justice and follow the court case from there,” Kiplimo said.
The assault
The incident occurred on the morning of November 8. Kiplimo picked up a passenger for a short trip from Dubai Harbour to JBR.
The ride turned violent when the male passenger shifted seats and allegedly attempted to strangle the driver.
“He held my neck and started strangling me. I told him to stop; that this is not acceptable, but he kept tightening his grip,” Kiplimo recalled.
Gasping for air, Kiplimo lost control of the vehicle, smashing into a pavement. In a final bid for survival, he leaned on the car horn, the sound of which likely startled the attacker into loosening his grip.
Kiplimo then fled the vehicle. A passing motorcyclist assisted him in calling the police and an ambulance.
Abandoned by employer
Despite the trauma, Kiplimo says his pursuit of justice has been blocked by bureaucratic hurdles and employer negligence.
Police demanded dashcam footage, but he lacked the funds for a flash drive to extract it. When he sought medical help for his swollen neck and fading voice, he claims his employer, KABI Taxi Company, refused to assist.
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“My neck was swollen. I was slowly losing my voice,” he said. “For a whole week, I begged my employer to help me get treatment. I was turned away.”
When the Kenyan Consulate intervened on November 15, the employer promised to help but allegedly reneged, accusing Kiplimo of absconding from duty.
“They said I had absconded from duty. I was sick. I could barely speak. How can you work when you can’t even breathe properly?” he posed.
A desperate situation
The situation escalated last Thursday when the company warned Kiplimo he would be marked as a “runaway employee”—a status that carries the risk of arrest in the UAE. When he requested his passport to leave the country, he was told he would have to pay for its release.
“I had nothing left. I’m sick, I am in pain, and I’m just asking for my passport. They told me to pay,” he said.
Now isolated and recovering from his injuries indoors, Kiplimo’s plea is singular and urgent.
“I just want to go home,” he said. “That’s all. I just want to go home.”
