Allocate us parking space, matatu operators tell Kidero

Matatu Owners now want Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to give them a holding ground to enable them effect the new parking directive without disruption of services to commuters.

Speaking to the press after a meeting with stakeholders from the matatu industry, Matatu Owners Association Chair Simon Kimutai revealed that the sector had invested more than Sh50 billion in the transport industry and that banning matatu PSVs from the CBD would amount to huge losses for the sector.

Also present at the meeting was MOA National coordinator Albert Karakacha, who called for fair treatment of all matatu saccos.

Karakacha also demanded cross city licences to allow matatu operators to traverse across counties as opposed to the current situation where only a few operators are allowed and others restricted.

In the meeting, the stakeholders also recommended that drivers to be trained in areas such as etiquette and discipline in the industry.

Kimutai further urged operators in the matatu industry to lead by example in the fight against corruption.

“If a police officer asks for a bribe don’t give him, it might be hard but we will manage,” he said.

He also asked all the operators to submit copies of their licenses to the county government in a bid to fight harassment from city askaris.

On Wednesday last week, the Nairobi County Government and Matatu Owners Association (MOA) reached an agreement that no matatus will be locked out of the CBD, but proposed that only two buses will be allowed at a terminus at a time.

In the meeting led by Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke and officials from the Matatu Welfare Association, Matatu Owners Association and National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the stakeholders also agreed to call off a planned strike that was aimed at protesting the new contingency measures announced earlier by Governor Kidero.