Transport crisis as matatu strike intensifies
Commuters board a personal car along Naivasha Road in Nairobi after matatu operators stayed away from the roads to protest new traffic laws. PHOTO / ANTHONY OMUYA
What you need to know:
Tough measures:
- Death by careless driving: The offence is punishable by life sentence.
- Overlapping, obstruction, driving on pavement or through a petrol station to avoid traffic: A fine of Sh100,000 - 300,000 or one year in jail or both.
- Careless driving: Penalty of Sh500,000 or 10 years imprisonment or both.
- Number plates: When you sell your vehicle, you should surrender the number plates to the registrar of motor vehicles.
- Driving under influence of alcohol: A fine of Sh500,000 or 10 years in jail or both.
Transport was paralysed in various areas across the country as matatu operators made good their threat to stay away from roads to protest the new traffic laws.
The tough new regulations prescribe hefty fines and jail terms for traffic offenders.
In Nairobi, commuters braved the morning drizzle to walk to work following arbitrary fare hikes by the few public service vehicles that were on the road.
Police also dispersed matatu operators who had blocked the Nairobi-Nakuru highway at Gitaru area. The traffic snarl-up had stretched to almost two kilometres.
In Nyeri town, traders and farmers incurred losses in the ongoing matatu strike.
The three main bus termini in the town remained deserted as matatu operators shied away from the stations.
“Since last Friday our businesses have been affected, we have no customers because most of our customers are those in the matatu industry,” said Ms Anne Wanjiru, a trader at Nyeri- Nyahururu bus terminus.
Ms Wanjiru said that they have been forced to throw away some of their perishable.
Traders in the town have opted to close their business premises until the strike is called off.
They are now urging the government to resolve this matter and let matatu resume their normal operations.
The matatu operators want the law amended saying it is draconian and would lead to extortion from police officers.
“We are urging the government to consider amending the traffic rules so that normal operations can resume,” said Mr Idi Hussein a matatu driver.
The transport paralysis was also experienced in towns across Kakamega and Siaya Counties.
Commuters were forced to part with a fortune for the few public service vehicles on the road.
Fares charged between Mumias -Kakamega and Bungoma - Kakamega more than doubled.
From Mumias to Kakamega, commuters paid between Sh250 and Sh300 up from the usual Sh100.
Owners of private vehicles came in handy to help but they could not march the large number of travellers.
The situation was not any different in Siaya County where the few vehicles that dotted roads charged exorbitant prices.
“I have been here since seven o’clock but there is no vehicle, so I am forced to go back home,” said Ednah Anyango who was to travel to Kisumu for personal business.
A group of Matatu touts blocked the route at the gate of Karapul Primary School to bar any public service vehicle from passing. Police dispersed them after one hour.
“I was to sit my exams today at Maseno University but I can’t make it to Maseno without vehicles, I don’t know what to do,” said another passenger Paul Livondo.
Several public service vehicles remained parked at petrol filling stations and in garages in Kakamega, Mumias and other towns in Siaya as motorcyclists took the advantage of the situation to hike fares as well.
