Matatu owners Friday filed a new application seeking to challenge government’s move to phase out the 14-seater vehicles.
In the new petition, 24 matatu saccos accuse the government of ignoring their pleas, especially after the High Court in December granted them temporary orders blocking the plan.
The saccos including Utimo, Walokana and Runka argued that efforts to engage National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have been fruitless.
Through Lawyer Mugo Githinji, the public service vehicle owners argued that the authority’s action have been aimed at oppressing them in a bid to compel them to cede ground for the state to effect to the Rapid Bus Transport Scheme without a legislative framework for its implementation.
“The government has not generated any regulations for the effective implementation of the Rapid Bus Transport program other than marking of major roads within Nairobi County more conspicuously being the Thika Road with a red line. It is unfair and unconstitutional to take measures that are detriment to us,” read part of the court papers.
In December, some 25 matatu sacco’s filed a similar case and obtained temporary orders blocking the government’s move.