How did you get to work on Monday? Did you walk or were forced to pay the exaggerated fair? Well am sorry but this might get worse tomorrow.
In fact, Traffic Commandant Samuel Kimaru, has said the crackdown on Matatus in just a dress rehearsal in readiness for the return of the Michuki rules next week.
The traffic boss termed the crackdown as a move aimed at ensuring safety of Kenyans who have been victims of reckless operations for a long time.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s, the traffic boss warned matatu operators who have not met the set requirements to act appropriately or keep their vehicles at home.
15:33 Railways no matatu on sight. Also can you see the ugly pedestrian pavements?pic.twitter.com/1QQRjLC9Iu via @PRSA_Roadsafety
— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) November 5, 2018
“There are crooks in Nairobi who have so many issues, they don’t follow rules, they don’t have uniforms unlike other saccos, if you won’t meet the requirements don’t take your vehicle to the road,” Mr. Kimaru said.
His sentiments were criticised by the chairman Motor Vehicle Transporters Association Calvin Nyaure, who said the police are to blame for the problems facing the transport sector. Nyaore said the officers had turned the crackdown into a business project.
“The officers are trying to look for money from matatu owners, they have made it a business project,” Nyaure said.
The sentiments were echoed by the chairman, Matatu Owners Association Simon Kimutai who expressed his dissatisfaction with the crackdown that entered its second day on Monday morning.
Mr. Kimutai argued that the Michuki rules being enforced were supended by Justice Odunga and nobody in government appealed.
“Justice Odunga suspended the Michuki rules, I wonder why they are still the talk of town,” Kimutai said.
He further added that the crackdown witnessed in Nairobi had forced many matatu operators to keep their vehicles off the road for fear of arrest while advocating for dialogue to solve road issues.
“Why impound someone’s vehicle for three days and they have loans they’re paying?” he asked. “If there is a problem, which i cant deny, the traffic department should be sensitive on how to address it.”
Mr. Kimutai said the transport sector is facing stiff competition from outsiders who are not licensed to carry passengers and the situation has made many operators to disregard traffic rules in the process.
“We have gotten into unhealthy competition, private vehicles are now transporting people from various destinations, such competitions make people engage in unfavorable competition police know this and are doing nothing about it,” he said.
Mr. Kimaru insisted that the exercise was nothing unusual saying they had decided to take it a notch higher adding that the Michuki rules are binding and are nothing different from what is stipulated in the NTSA and Traffic acts.