Payment of matatu fare may soon go cashless

The government is reviewing the traffic law to enforce the use of cashless payment in a bid to revamp public transport.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Transport permanent secretary Karanja Kibicho said the ministry is finalising a review of the New Traffic Act 2012 to make way for cashless payment of fares by commuters using a card.

“Adopting electronic payments will save investors millions of money lost at the hands of drivers and conductors and further reduce corruption on the roads,” Mr Kibicho said.

Once revised, the law will stipulate how passengers, drivers and conductors using the public transport should conduct themselves on the roads.

Electronic payment
Mr Karanja was speaking at the launch of BebaPay, a cashless solution for payment of road transport offered by a partnership between Equity Bank and Google.

The product is expected to improve efficiency in revenue collection from the transport industry, currently marred with corruption and bribery.

Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai Matatu said the new electronic payment will help entrepreneurs monitor how much they earn from their businesses. “This is likely to attract more investments in an industry that has seen many investors exit on claims of loss making,” Mr Kimutai said.

Deputy President William Ruto said the support all developments that will reduce the confusion in the transport industry including reviewing the regulations governing the sector.

“Any creative solution that offers relief to commuters and the disorder in the matatu industry including amending Traffic Act is welcome,” said Mr Ruto.