Probox operators protest IG Boinnets order

Probox operators in Trans Nzoia County have come out to protest an order by Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet that all cars operating as passenger service vehicles (PSVs) without licenses be impounded.

The drivers are claiming that if the order is effected it would interfere with their income because most of them depend on the cars to pay their debts and loans from banks.

IG Boinnet had on Wednesday ordered the police to impound any Probox car found carrying passangers without a PSV license. This came after several complaints that the Probox cars are flouting traffic rules to an extent of sometimes carrying up to 17 passengers at once – leading to road accidents.

Matatu owners on the other hand lamented that the Probox cars that operated illegally as PSVs were eating into their profits.

They claimed that the vehicles do not have stickers, insurance and speed governors but were still treated the same way as PSVs by county governments – even going further to be allocated picking and dropping points.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier indicated that most Kenyans prefer private means of transport due to the rogue nature of matatu operators.

Report by James Matheri