Busia matatu operators, traders protest over bad roads

Transport in Busia Town was disrupted for more than one hour Monday as matatu operators held a demonstration to protest the deplorable condition of the main bus park and roads. PHOTO | GAITANO PESA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Traders also joined the protest, saying they have been losing customers because of the bad roads.
  • They said the Busia County government has been collecting taxes from them yet it has failed to repair the roads and bus park.
  • Roads executive Bernard Yaite accuse the matatu operators of failure to cooperate with the county government.

Transport in Busia Town was disrupted for more than one hour Monday as matatu operators held a demonstration to protest the deplorable condition of the main bus park and roads.

The protesters planted banana tubers in numerous potholes around the park and nearby roads.

Traders also joined the protest, saying they have been losing customers because the roads are rendered impassable when it rains.

They said the Busia County government has been collecting taxes from them yet it has failed to repair the roads and bus park.

They threatened to stop remitting taxes if the situation remains the same.

“The county government has been taxing matatu sacco members daily. We don’t know how our money is being spent,” said a driver with a Bungoma shuttle.

Contacted, Roads and Transport executive Bernard Yaite blamed the matatu operators whom he accused of failing to cooperate with the county government.

“Our previous attempts to evict some traders operating illegally from the centre of the park were futile thus making it hard for the contractor to undertake his work,” said Mr Yaite.