Hundreds of commuters in Nanyuki were Wednesday stranded at various matatu termini after Public Service Vehicle operators withdrew their services protesting infiltration of the sector by private-car operators.
The 6am move by matatus operating along Nairobi, Meru, Isiolo and Nyeri routes caught many travelers by surprise as they had expected to travel to their various destinations but majority ended up cancelling their journeys.
Matatu operators who held peaceful protests in Nanyuki town and its environs seemed to have been angered by the government’s move two weeks ago to allow operators of Probox and Sienta vehicles to ferry passengers on feeder roads in the county.
The move they said had seen the same vehicles carry passengers even on major highways thus eating into their businesses due to competition.
Travelers expressed their frustrations over the standoff between the PSV operators and the private car owners saying that they ought to have resolved their differences amicably without inconveniencing commuters.
Margaret Kirera, a civil servant was among those who were stranded at the Nanyuki main bus terminus as she sought to travel to attend a government workshop in Naivasha town.
She regretted that the strike by the matatu operators had inconvenienced many travelers and brought the transport sector in the busy town to a standstill.
“I was supposed to go to Naivasha for a workshop only for me to find there were no matatus plying the route today.
This is very frustrating, there ought to be better mechanisms of solving such differences instead of grounding an entire fleet of PSVs.” Ms. Kirera said.
Another stranded traveler Henry Kinyua said he hoped to attend to a business meeting in Nairobi city but his hopes had evaporated after failing to find a vehicle to travel to the capital at 6.30am.
Joseph King’ori a matatu operator with Nanyuki cabs Sacco that ply the Nanyuki-Nairobi route said they were forced to take the action after realizing that the probox and Sienta vehicles had taken over all major routes in the area forcing many matatu operators out of business.
“These vehicles (Probox and Sienta) do not have a PSV license to operate neither are they fitted with speed governors so they easily outrun 14-seatermatatus and carry as many passengers as possible.
It is the high time government regulated the sector and determined who should operate where and when.” King’ori said.
The Psv operators marched through the town carrying an empty coffin with the picture of Laikipia Woman Representative Catherine Waruguru who they accused of advocating for the Probox and Sienta operators to ferry passengers in the area.
Two weeks ago the woman rep was arrested by police officers in Nanyuki town after she mobilized the same operators to stage a demonstration in the town while Interior CS Dr.Fred Matiang’i was having a function in the area.
She was later released without any charges.
By Martin Munyi
