Tout madness in the streets has now turned dangerous to human life in the process of conducting business at the various bus stops.
In a recent heart stopping scenario, its been reported that a tout almost hurt another conductor with scissors simply because of carrying a passenger at Makadara Law Courts stage, Jogoo road. He apparently threatened to pierce him with the scissors.
14:24 This tout just next to makadara law courts stage, jogoo road; wanted to piece a conductor for carrying passenger at the stage. He threatened to pierce him with a scissors @DCI_Kenya @PoliceKE @ntsa_kenya pic.twitter.com/5kVv3umuuj via @is_musyoki
— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) May 20, 2019
A fellow has mentioned that the tout is famously rude and one of the cartels running the stage.
I know this guy, he is always rude. He us one of the Cartel running that stage
— martin mungai (@martinm81864408) May 20, 2019
Cartels including organised criminal gangs, rogue traffic police officers, county askaris and touts run Kenya’s transport Industry.
Public service vehicle (PSV) owners, who do not bow to this brutally ravenous cartel, are either pushed out of business or forced off lucrative routes.
Matatu Owners Association (MOA) chairman Samuel Kimutai said the extortion ring runs deep in the sector and the crews are usually caught up in the web, cooperating to save their lives as those who fail to comply are harassed out of business or even killed.
The cartel has disrupted order in the public transport system, encouraging lawlessness and providing protection to law-breaking crew at the various terminuses and bus stops.
They are also known to be on standby to deal with any passenger “causing trouble” to the conductors by demanding civility or respect.