Bus park closed over fare row

The Mukuyu Matatu Bus Park has been shut down following wrangles between two matatu saccos plying the Mukuyi – Mugoiri road.

The main bus park was closed by Murang’a Town Manager Mr. Jeremiah Kamau following a confrontation that ensued between MUNA Shuttle and MUNA Sacco operators.

The tussle ensured after fare differences between the two saccos became extremely visible as MUNA Shuttle was charging Ksh 50 while MUNA Sacco charged Ksh 100 from Mukuyu to Kahuro shopping centre.

Operators of MUNA Sacco demanded that their competitors in MUNA Shuttle raise their passenger fee from Ksh 50 to Ksh 100 so that both Saccos can be at par in terms of competition thereby spurring confrontations.

The irate operators threatened their MUNA Shuttle counterparts claiming that they have been charging reasonable fares since the Shuttle has new Matatus that cannot compete with the ones in MUNA Sacco, hence the need for an agreed price.

Police had to intervene to disperse the rowdy operators in order to avoid any cases of violence.

Led by Murang’a OCS Absolomon Wamalwa, the police officers guarded the bus park for the better part of the day.

Police further towed two vehicles belonging to MUNA Sacco for obstructing their colleagues from doing business.

The Town Manager said that the incident was a repeat of a similar one that happened one year ago when the operators clashed butchering each other.

Last year, one of the biggest matatu operators in Murang’a, Simon Gachathi was murdered outside his house after a battle between Murang’a Supreme Shuttle Services and Murang’a Shuttle Services.

Gachathi was involved in a confrontation between the two saccos over the bus fare from Murang’a to Nairobi.

This was after his sacco lowered the fare by half – from Ksh 200 to Ksh 100 thereby attracting high number of travelers.

He was murdered at the peak of the matatu Sacco wars which led to businesses being paralyzed in the town and the main bus terminus temporarily closed for three days to allow for the resolution of the dispute.

 By James Wakahiu / Written by Jemmimah Gathoni