Public Service Vehicles To Go Cashless

According to Dickson Mbugua, the Matatu Welfare Association chairman, the matatu sector and the public at large are not ready for the cashless system.

The MOA on Friday said that out of the over 20,000 matatus only 2000 had complied.

The matatu operators now want the government to extend the deadline for the system in order to create time for public awareness.

Police have however vowed a crack down on any matatu operators that will be caught collecting cash from passengers.

According to the regulations gazetted by Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau last year, non compliant crew risks a fine of not more than Ksh. 100,000 and a jail term not exceeding one year.

Commuters in the city now fear of a transport crisisstarting on Tuesday.

Among the systems already in place for the electronic smart pay cards is the Beba Prepaid card used by City hoppers and Abiria card for Kenya Bus.

The introduction of the electronic payment system is aimed at bringing sanity to our roads.

The cashless system will first be implemented in Nairobi before rolling out to other parts of the country.

By Mildred Amoni