Crisis looms again as unions disagree

Another public transport crisis might be in the offing after two opposing matatu lobby groups clashed over the implementation of the 14-seater phase-out policy.

On Wednesday matatu owners asked the government to shelf the plan, claiming that it was not well thought-out.

While they don’t dispute that reasons behind the move are valid, they want the Ministry of Transport to let market factors determine the phase-out.

They acknowledge that the move to higher capacity vehicles is inevitable.

“A while back we had 7-seater Peugeot saloon vehicles acting as public service vehicles. Nobody phased them out. But they became uneconomical for operators,” said Matatu Owners Association national chairman Simon Kimutai.

However, members of the Matatu Welfare Association are up in arms against MOA for backing the policy guideline introduced early last year.

Nakuru County MOA chairman Njoroge ‘Bumasu’ Njoroge said most operators were servicing loans and declaring a phase-out of their of vehicles from public transport was insensitive.

MWA is now threatening to call a nationwide strike to push the government to scrap the policy.

However, MOA, who have adopted a subtle approach to the move cautioned the ministry against actively pursuing the policy arguing that despite the time given since the inception of the idea, most operators lacked money.

Mr Njoroge warned that phasing out the 14-seater matatus would result to a nationwide transport crisis.

“As much as we appreciate the idea behind the transformation, we would like to be given time to transform,” added Mr Stephen Marunga, the national vice-chairman.

Time to adjust

He said owners were afraid of bank loans owing to high interest rates. The cost a chassis alone had gone up by 30 per cent, he added.

The Transport Licensing Board, through chairman Hassan ole Kamwaro maintains that the phase out would go on gradually to allow operators time to adjust.