Last month the government announced the return of the dreaded Michuki rules, to tame rogue matatu drivers in the wake of concerns over increasing road accidents.
Well to show how serious the rules are CS Fred Matiang’i had joined traffic cops who were inspecting matatus in the ongoing crackdown to ensure they comply with the National Transport and Safety Authority Act 2013, and the Traffic Act.
CS Matiang’i has today stopped at the Naivasha and the Gilgil road blocks to talk to passengers, motorists, matatu guys and police @InteriorKE pic.twitter.com/FOYNp21Gha
— #NdotchTheBrand (@ndotch18) November 29, 2018
Matiangi can be heard in a video asking about the fair prices.Earlier when matatu’s dared to strike,Matiang’i put on notice matatu operators who resorted to hiking fares to make a killing from the transport crisis occasioned by the PSV strike.
“Some of those vehicles doubling fares on their routes will lose their licenses today. I can assure you that,” said the CS.
Road accidents have been on the rise this year and have killed 8,000 people in the last three years.
A staggering 91 per cent of the crashes are attributed to human-related circumstances such as speeding, reckless driving, dangerous overtaking and drink driving, tendencies which the government hopes to curtail by enforcing the Michuki Rules.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia and his Interior Counterpart promised that the rules, introduced by the no-nonsense powerful Cabinet minister John Michuki in 2003, would be enforced with more ruthlessness and discipline.
Matatu owners, drivers, conductors, and passengers were given until November 12 to comply with the rules, the NTSA Act 2013, and the Traffic Act.
Public service vehicles were required to be fitted with speed governors, safety belts and painted with a yellow line.
All PSV drivers and conductors were asked to wear uniforms and badges and prominently display their photos in the vehicle.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has declared that the government will not relent in the latest crackdown to streamline the transport sector in the country.
One twitter user requested that Matiang’i should also go to his residence in Thika where safety belts have bee replaced by bag straps.
Interior CS @FredMatiangi stopped at the Naivasha and Gilgil road blocks to talk to passengers, motorists, PSV Drivers, Conductors and Police on the ongoing road safety campaign drive.
Please Sir, come to Thika Road where safety belts have been replaced by bag straps. pic.twitter.com/5Pr6fQM2s5
— David Maina Ndung’u?? (@ItsDavidMaina) November 29, 2018
Do you think Matiang’i will maintain the seriousness of the crack down?