Michuki rules a pain for commuters in coast counties as matatus overcharge

Coast residents continue to bear the brunt of the transport crisis occasioned by the ongoing crackdown on Public Service Vehicles, with commuters forced to part with usurious amounts as bus fare.

The renewed vigour by the government to enforce traffic rules has proved to be a double-edged sword to commuters, with most welcoming the move for enhancing safety on the roads while having to bear the brunt of increased fares.

TRIPLED FARES

Some of the operators have more than tripled fares, leaving passengers suffering.

In Mombasa, despite matatu operators displaying reduced fares, they routinely overcharge commuters.

From Mombasa CBD to Mikindani, for instance, the fare schedules posted inside the vehicles often indicate Sh70 but passengers are forced to pay Sh100.

“What they are doing is being unfair, complying with the Michuki rules is doing the right thing but what they think is that they are doing us a favour,” said a Changamwe resident, Mr Paul Kambi.

This comes even as Coast regional coordinator Bernard Leparmarai warned that police officers have been deployed to routes where cases of overcharging have been reported and action would be taken.

'ILLEGAL'

“That is illegal and we are going to deal with those who have decided to follow their own rules,” said Mr Leparmarai.

In Kwale County, the few matatus that are on the road have hiked fares by between 50 and 300 per cent.

Residents say matatu operators are taking advantage of the crisis at the expense of public.

Mr Ali Rashid from Ukunda said it is very difficult to get to Mombasa as there are few matatus and fares have been hiked.

Matatus plying the Likoni-Ukunda route are now charging between Sh150 and Sh200, up from Sh70.

FORCED

Passengers who used to pay Sh150 from Likoni to Lunga Lunga are now forced to part with up to Sh500.

"It is chaotic to get a matatu and sometimes we are forced to travel in private cars to reach our destinations. It costs Sh150 from Ukunda to Likoni, yet ordinarily, one paid Sh100, which rose from Sh70 before the implementation of eight percent VAT on fuel," he said.

Matatu Owners Association Coast co-ordinator Salim Mbarak said operators are doing it illegally because what is charged is not what has officially been agreed upon within the association.

At the same time, Mr Mbarak accused traffic police of arresting motorists over what he termed as “petty issues”.

"It is not fair for the operators to hike fares and take advantage of the crisis. Those doing so should be arrested," he said, urging the operators not to hike fares but observe traffic rules.

COMPLIED

Mr Mbarak said at least 40 per cent of the operators have complied with the rules.

Fare from Malindi to Kilifi and Malindi to Mombasa has begun to stabilize to its original price of Sh200 and Sh400 respectively.

Mr Hassan Bakari, a matatu driver plying the Malindi-Kilifi route, said this is due to the increased number of matatus that have complied with law.

Early this month, travellers had a rough time after matatu operators hiked fares from Malindi to Mombasa to Sh1,500 from Sh400.

Some passengers opted to travel to Kilifi through Garsen by boda boda paying between Sh1,500 and Sh2,000.

'POOL FUNDS'

Yesterday, Ms Mercy Auma, a fruit vendor in Malindi who was traveling to Kongowea market in Mombasa to restock, said she paid the usual Sh400 to Mombasa.

"At the height of the crackdown, we were forced to pool funds for fare and send one of us to Kongowea to avoid losses," she said.

In Taita Taveta County, normalcy has returned to the roads as most vehicles have complied with law and resumed operations.

Residents told the Nation that they welcomed the crackdown, saying it was meant to save lives especially during this festive season.

“PSVs operators become reckles during holidays because of the large number of people travelling. They overload and that risk lives of passengers to make a killing,” said Mr Morris Mwasi.

NOT RELENT

Mr Mwasi said the government should not relent on its fight against unruly PSV operators.

He said corruption had derailed previous efforts to reign in on errant operators.

Voi OCPD Joseph Chesire said police would continue with the crackdown until all vehicles plying different routes within the county fully comply with the law.

“So far, 60 per cent of all PSVs, including boda boda operators, have complied. We will ensure that all comply,” he said.

Reports by Mohamed Ahmed, Fadhili Fredrick, Charles Lwanga and Lucy Mkanyika