Ongata Line Sacco battles to return to business

Ongata Line Sacco battles to return to business

“My clients are suffering, Ongata Line was their only source of income.” This was the opening statement of Peter Omingo, Ongata Line Sacco’s Lawyer to the Transport Licensing Appeals Board as he challenged the National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) decision to deregister the Sacco.

Omingo was seeking temporary relief for the Sacco to be allowed to operate as the case on whether it was culpable for the Sunday, September 23, 2016 killer crash on Lang’ata Road is heard and determined. But the lawyer representing the residents of Rongai and its environs, Jeremiah Nyakundi, objected to the Sacco’s application stating that the residents were in fact endangered by the dangerous conduct of the Sacco members.

Blame game

Ezekiel Mwangi, one of the Directors of the Sacco, argues that the vehicle in question was no longer in the hands of the Sacco. Mwangi blames NTSA for allowing the vehicle to continue plying the route despite its letter dated September 9, 2016, in which the Sacco informed NTSA that the ill-fated vehicle, bearing registration number KCG 784M, was among four vehicles it had labeled as non-compliant alongside its crews. The other vehicles bear the following registration; KCG 877M, KCH 287B and KCG 477W.

Ongata Line Sacco’s letter reads in part: “It has been quite hard on our side to tame the crew; we have resorted to withdrawing their TSLs which we surrendered to your office on 01/09/2016 and we requested your office to take action.”

It goes on to say: “We as Ongata Line have no powers to arrest and we can only inform your office for further instructions.”

Sources revealed to Citizen TV that the man who was behind the wheel when the crash occurred was one Francis Mukuria, popularly known by his nickname “Ambulance”, apparently because of his love for speed.

On Tuesday, however, NTSA’s Director General, Francis Meja, accused the Ongata Line of complacency, saying it has been unable to rein in the errant crew of the vehicle claiming that it had guaranteed the owner a loan running into millions of shillings.

High stakes

The stakes are high for the members of the deregistered Ongata Line Sacco. Close to 100 vehicles registered with the Sacco, have been out of operations since Sunday, September 25 following the accident that killed four people along Langata Road.

Each day out off the route spells a big loss. On an average day, at least 92 vehicles would be operational, that would translate to close to Ksh 3 million by close of business. From each vehicle, owners expect at least 12,000 shillings daily. The Sacco would pay the drivers and touts and fuel the vehicles as well.

NTSA’s lawyer, Charles Agwara, while objecting to the temporary relief request asked the Sacco members that the law allows them to join other Saccos. But Sacco members claim that joining other Saccos is an expensive adventure that would cost no less than Ksh 80,000 per vehicle, and that it is likely that their competitors would hike the fee significantly.

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories