Matatu operators call for end to teachers’ strike, say it is hurting transport business

Neno Sacco founding member Emilio Kathuri addresses reporters during a matatu operators road safety sensitisation seminar in Embu on September 23, 2015. Mr Kathuri urged the government to end the ongoing teachers strike, saying it was hurting the matatu industry. PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • They said many of the vehicles which depended on ferrying students had since been grounded or are making minimal travel.
  • Mr Kathuri said the strike has partly paralysed the matatu business and called for a quick resolution of the matter by all the parties involved.
  • He at the same time called on the government to come up with programmes to reward NTSA recognised saccos that have improved on road safety.

Matatu operators in Embu County have called on the government and teachers’ unions to quickly resolve the ongoing strike, saying it is hurting their industry.

The over 600 operators from different saccos operating in the county said they were incurring huge loses since the strike started as most of their customers were teachers and students.

Led by Neno Sacco founding member Emilio Kathuri, the operators said many of the vehicles that depended on ferrying students had been grounded or are making minimal travel.

Mr Kathuri, who is also a former Manyatta MP, said the strike had partly paralysed the matatu business and called for a quick resolution of the matter by all the parties involved.

“We want schools to reopen so that we can resume normal operations. Some of us rely on students, especially days-scholars for our earnings as they constitute a major market. Others have been making loses since the strike began,” said Mr Kathuri.

ROAD SAFETY PROGRAMME

He spoke Wednesday in Embu Town during a road safety and customer service sensitisation forum organised by National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

Mr Kathuri, at the same time, called on the government to come up with programmes to reward NTSA-recognised saccos that have improved on road safety.

He said such programmes would motivate others to put in place stringent road safety measures that will reduce accidents in the country.

Neno Sacco chairman Joseph Nyaga said regular training programmes will help curb road accidents in the area.

He said the sacco had learnt a lot after their operations were temporarily halted in January 2015 after one of their vehicles was involved in a fatal accident on the Runyenjes-Embu road.

“We have been regularly vetting and training our drivers on road safety and customer service so as to minimize the number of accident on our roads.

“We have also improved efficiency in our booking offices and ensuring our customers are not harassed,” he said.