Fresh matatu strike looms over phase-out
Another public transport crisis is due in a matter of days after the government ignored a 21-day notice to rescind its decision to phase out 14-seater matatus.
Last month, the Matatu Owners Association and the Matatu Welfare Association issued a 21-day notice demanding that the government rescinds its decision to ban the 14-seaters. The notice expires on Tuesday. (READ: Matatu operators in fresh strike threat)
The two associations have been criss-crossing the country mobilising their members to take participate in the strike.
Nakuru PSV Declaration
During their meeting in Nakuru, the two groups issued what they described as the “Nakuru PSV Declaration.”
“We are now heading to Kakamega where we shall meet our members on Thursday. On Friday, we shall be in Kisumu,” said Mr Stephen Muli one of the organisers of the strike.
Mr Muli, who is also the secretary of the Nakuru County Matatu Owners Association, said that the date of the national strike would be announced in Kisumu.
“This will be a major strike. We have tried our best to avert it, but it appears that the government is not interested in what we have to say,” he said.
The investors in the industry want the Transport ministry to shelve the plan to phase out matatus and allow the sector to regulate itself.
They accuse minister Amos Kimunya of “deliberately misadvising President Kibaki on the phasing out of the 14-seaters.”
On Monday, a spot-check by the Nation in Nakuru town indicated that most of the operators were ready for the strike.
“Our jobs are at risk because investors are not buying new vehicles. We are waiting for our leaders to blow the whistle and we ground the vehicles,” said a driver who plies the Naivasha-Nakuru route.
Analysts say that at least 1.5 million people who depend directly or indirectly on the industry will be affected by the phase-out of the 14-seater PSVs.
