Kilifi north COVID 19 Multi- Agency committee has netted 48 Public Service Vehicles (PSV) for flouting the ministry of health protocols and detained them at Kilifi stadium until owners complied with the regulations.
The vehicles which included two buses and 46 Nissan matatus were netted at Kilifi bridge road block as they headed to different destinations on the Mombasa- Malindi highway yesterday.
By the end of the day, less than half of those affected had met the PSV protocols. They were allowed to resume operations as the others remained in custody.
Kilifi north sub-county commissioner Josphat Mutisya and police commander David Chacha said no PSV vehicles would be allowed to operate while disregarding the health protocols.
“The ministry of health gave every sector the code of behavior required for them to operate. Operators of PSVs have ignored all these and we will not allow them to operate until they comply,” they said.
The PSV vehicles are required to have thermal guns for temperature testing of the passengers boarding their vehicles, ensure none enters without face masks, have sanitizers and seat marks and show the number required to board.
Mutisya and Chacha who spent the day at the road block with ministry of health officials expressed concern that most vehicles did not meet the standards, meaning they have been operating illegally.
“We are here as the multi-agency committee to enforce the required protocols. After we bring order to this sector, we will move to the next sector and enforce the same,” they said.
Mombasa Raha and TSS buses were netted as they headed to the northern counties of Lamu and Tana River. Passengers got stranded for a while but later sought other alternatives.
By Harrison Yeri
