You will see them running from one passenger to the other in a bid to get a high “commission” from matatu conductors. This is the life of touts across many counties, particularly in Kisii County. Rogers Ombane, a matatu tout at Kisii bus stage in Kisii town, Kisii County narrates his experiences in this “lowly” respected job.
“Touting is not an easy job. For you to put food on the table, you don’t have to give up but persevere the risks involved. Sometimes you get insulted but you have to live with it,” Ombane said.
The Public Service Vehicle (PSV) transport system has seen many people flocking bus stations for a touting job which Ombane underscores the importance of passion in doing it.
He added that working as a tout gives him a sense of authority and security since he is used to handling different types of people including the hot-tempered ones.
The behavior of grabbing passengers’ luggage without their consent attracts mixed reactions from passengers who become provoked and cold towards touts but Ombane said sometimes touts have to do that to win more passengers for their preferred PSVs to earn more for the day.
Vincent Omwenga, also a tout at Kisii bus station, decries commuters’ perceiving them as swindlers because they lack uniforms, jeopardizing their work.
Omwenga adds that touting requires proper time management and sacrifices since one has to work from 7 am to late night before curfew hours.
Since touts prefer ballyhooing as the best way of attracting commuters’ attention, they face a penalty of Sh. 3,000 from National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) which is a big challenge for many touts to raise.
By Deon Mogire/Naom Obure/ Erastus Michieka
