The Matatu Saccos operating in Migori town risk being faced out if they fail to comply with the rules set by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the County Government.
The County Chief Executive Committee member for Roads and Transport, Moses Chamwada said when he met representatives from the Matatu Saccos, Migori County government, Police and NTSA that the non-compliant Saccos should keep off the bus park until their revenues are remitted to the County Government.
“It is our resolve that only vehicles that have complied with our set regulations will be allowed to operate within Migori Bus Park,” he said.
Chamwada noted the County Government would restrict the number of vehicles picking passengers to three from every Sacco to ease congestion at the Taxi Park which he said was small and was waiting for a bigger one to be constructed.
“We are keen on reducing congestion in the bus park by minimizing the number of vehicles to three per Sacco,” he said.
The NTSA Regional Coordinator, Ezekiel Koech called for sanity in the Matatu sector that has witnessed constant wrangles.
Koech noted that it was only through compliance that the sector would restore calm and create a conducive business atmosphere.
“We had a meeting with stakeholders from the matatu sector and have resolved to retain only the vehicles that have fully complied with our regulations on our roads,” he said.
Koech urged Matatu owners to flush out rogue members in the sector saying it was the only avenue to sanitize the sector that has witnessed high rate of disorder
The Migori Matatu Owners (MMO) and Migori Stage Transporters (MST) were accused of failing to remit their taxes to NTSA and the County government.
Jared Okech who represented the Matatu sector lauded the move saying it was a step towards creating an enabling business environment.
“We will ensure that all Sacco’s are compliant because it is only through tax remittance that the businesses will run without interference,” he said.
By Geoffrey Satia
