Travelers stranded as Matatu Sacco pulls out vehicles for safety check

Public transport along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway was temporarily disrupted after one of the main matatu operators pulled out their vehicles from the route for a rare safety check.

The new management of the Nairobi-Naivasha United Services (NNUS) took the new measures after reports that some of the vehicles were caught on camera speeding.

Following the early morning move, tens of passengers were stranded at the Naivasha terminus before some of the matatus were cleared and resumed operations.

Tens of drivers from the transport company were affected by the exercise which targeted all the privately owned matatus.

The vice chairman of the Sacco, Johnson Maina, said that the Sacco now has a fleet of more than 250 vehicles and the move aimed at ensuring that all their vehicles complied with traffic rules.

He said that more than 20 drivers were found to have exceeded the mandatory speed limits and were handed instant fines.

“Drivers who flouted the rules were fined between Ksh 500 and Ksh 1,500 depending on the committed offence,” noted Maina.

He explained that subjecting drivers flouting rules to a payable fine was not a punitive measure but meant to enhance discipline.

Written by Erick Kombo