A disturbing video circulating online showing a Kenyan taxi driver in Dubai being violently assaulted by a passenger has ignited public outrage and renewed concern about the safety of Kenyan migrants working abroad.
The victim, identified as 26-year-old Brian Kiplimo, was reportedly working as a cab driver in Dubai, having moved to the United Arab Emirates just two months prior in search of better economic opportunities.
According to multiple reports and eyewitness accounts, the incident took place on November 8 at around 6 a.m. local time.
The dashcam footage begins with the client entering the taxi as a normal passenger.
However, minutes later the passenger moves from the rear seat behind the front passenger to the seat directly behind Kiplimo, the driver.
At that point, the passenger allegedly made unwanted sexual advances, placing his hands on the driver.
When Kiplimo resisted, the situation escalated, and the dashcam shows the passenger putting him in a chokehold, wrapping his hands around the driver’s neck while the vehicle was still in motion.
The video captures Kiplimo desperately shouting and struggling to breathe, while the attacker reportedly threatens him, telling him, “Shut up! You want to die?”
In a bid to survive, Kiplimo unbuckled his seat belt and escaped from the car.
On the road, visibly shaken and seemingly in pain, he stood in shock as the attacker jumped into the driver’s seat and drove away, leaving him behind.
The video has gone viral across social media and local media outlets, triggering widespread condemnation from Kenyans.
Critics have condemned not only the attack itself but also the apparent neglect by the authorities, invoking concerns about how migrant workers from Kenya are treated abroad.
One Monilex was quick to comment saying, “Lord protect us in these Arab countries.”
Reneilwe Remember said, "This world is not safe anymore."
"Do you trust that he will be granted that justice there? If it is possible to come home he should come home Dubai is dangerous," MimiMatshepo wrote in the comments.
Another TikTok user, Scavenger, wrote, "Sorry brother.Then guys everyone needs to take self defence training school, it will help you one day in some situations like this."
Many are calling on the government, especially the foreign affairs and diaspora authorities to take a firm stand, ensure justice for Kiplimo, and improve protections for Kenyans working abroad.
As of now, the official reaction from the Kenyan government remains muted.
Meanwhile, Kiplimo remains stranded, traumatised, and unsure of his next steps.
The silence from the Kenyan authorities at least publicly has drawn sharp criticism.
The plight of Brian Kiplimo a young man who moved thousands of kilometres in search of a better life may yet become a flash point in the broader debate about the safety, rights, and dignity of migrant workers from Kenya and elsewhere.
For now, what began as a routine taxi ride turned into a nightmare a sobering reminder that ambition and hard work can sometimes meet brutal reality.
