Stakeholders of Passenger Service Vehicles have opposed the proposal by the Ministry of Transport to regulate fares, saying it will kill the sector.
The National Organising Secretary of the Federation of Public Transport, Mr Dickson Mbugua, Matatu Owners Association Chairman Simon Kimutai and Matatu Transport Vehicle Association Secretary-General Richard Kanoru said the sector should be left to operate in line with supply and demand laws.
The ministry of Transport has drafted amendments to the Traffic Act and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Act seeking to control fares charged by PSVs across the country.
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) March 13, 2019
Do you support this move?#GetTheWholeStory pic.twitter.com/AyaaKN6tMa
“The exchange control and regulation laws, which capped commodity prices, were repealed in the 1990s through Parliament, giving way to soko huru (free market), which we have today. So, if the ministry is moving a bill to regulate fares, I challenge them to include those of air transport, taxi services and cargo transport, including the Standard Gauge Railway,” Mr Mbugua said.
The Nairobi Airport Line, one of many projects we are implementing to decongest Nairobi, will greatly reduce travel time between Nairobi CBD and JKIA, and thus augment Nairobi’s role as East Africa’s commercial hub. pic.twitter.com/jcCT6izEbO
— CS James Macharia, EGH (@JamesMacharia_) March 13, 2019
The three were responding separately to Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia’s revelation that the ministry has drafted an amendment to the Traffic Act and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Act seeking to control PSV fares across the country to protect the public from exploitation.
BRT Buses
He said market forces apply in the PSV sector, with fares being high during peak times and low during the off-peak times.
Mr.Kimutai said the idea was not informed by a clear understanding of the sector, more so since their sub-sector is the only one targeted.
12:45 Time will tell cos we have a million drafted law on how to control PSVs not only when it comes to fares via @PRSA_Roadsafety
— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) March 13, 2019
“I don’t understand how the government wants to control transport, which is privately run, without consultation. The CS thinks there is exploitation, but he will retreat once he realises that it is already a loss-making venture,” he said, adding that matatu owners are also hard hit by high cost of living.
Meanwhile,
“Though we greatly abhor the tendency by some crews to hike fares unnecessarily, the government should take a participatory approach to avoid creating unnecessary tension in the sector,” he said.
Here is a Twitter poll on what commuters thought of the idea:
SWALI: Do you support government bid to amend the law to allow it to control matatu fares? pic.twitter.com/Ss3cV3zPzF
— Nairobi News (@Nairobi_News) March 13, 2019
More ploys to nationalize the public transport sector. And a clever one at that, they realized a transport shutdown wins no friends.
— Binagwaho Gakunju (@BGakunju) March 13, 2019
The Ksh 20 – 10 that they will try to save us also has a lot of power in ensuring peace and security at matatu stages…
“He said the government is aware of exploitation of the public by the transport sector and the amendments are meant to protect the public.”@Watimz I think it’s a good move so that fares are standard and known!
— GRAYSON MARWA (@GrayMarwa) March 13, 2019
Isn’t that part of their work?
Support is one thing but will it work, we'll wait and see. Seatbelts, loud music, loud hooting, Speeding, poor customer service, fare extortion were once declared illegal but are still with us as if nothing happened after gov order! We're tired of tough talk!! via @meshacko1
— KenyanTraffic (@KenyanTraffic) March 13, 2019
Aint optimistic nothing good has emanated from this govt
— ndinda munyasya (@NMunyasya) March 13, 2019
No. Controlling matatu fare will only open a black market. What the govt may consider is putting up infrastructure so that commuters do not rely solely on roads as a means of transport. Then the fares will inevitably go down.
— Denis Githinji 🇰🇪 (@dgithinji) March 13, 2019
Matatu operations ni kama tu Iko black market already. Controlling fares will be a starting point
— CHARLES GATONYE (@cgatosh) March 13, 2019
Ministry of Transport ndiyo black market. For 90% of us Matatus are the Official transport authority. Sijawai bebwa na gari ya ministry.
— Denis Githinji 🇰🇪 (@dgithinji) March 13, 2019