Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang’i has announced a major crackdown in Nairobi that will be launched in two weeks time to sanitize the matatu industry once and for all.
The multi-agency operation is being planned by the Interior Ministry, Transport Ministry, the National Police Service, and the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA), with the help of National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Quoting Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho,It indicated that the crackdown will be “ruthless, painful and a sustained exercise” until order returns to the public transport sector.
With a multi-agency team that will spearhead the crackdown set to be unveiled in a week’s time, PS Kibicho exuded confidence in the operation indicating, “This time, it will be meticulous”.
The move will likely get rid of rogue matatus, corrupt police officers, criminal gangs that prey on the industry, and the politicians who run the gangs, permanently from the roads.
Speaking earlier in October, CS Matiangi promised to bring sanity to the roads and find a “lasting solution” to road carnage after 56 people perished at Fort Ternan, Kericho.
The operation is likely to disrupt transport and cause delays but in the long-run, envisions making the roads safer for travellers and the public transport sector attractive to the investors.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has reportedly authorized the operation that will wipe out the PSV cartel network and implement the ‘Michuki Rules’.
On Wednesday, Matiang’i (CS Interior), James Macharia (CS Transport), Karanja Kibicho (PS Interior), Esther Koimet (PS Transport) and IG Joseph Boinnet reportedly spent the better part of the day finalizing the details of the operation.
In what is likely to be an overhaul of the public transport sector, all companies operating long-distance passenger services will be required to have a fleet management system that will record data on speed, location and operations of the vehicle.
Besides, it will be mandatory for the operators to employ drivers, inspectors and mechanics permanently on each route and the vehicles will be required to stick to their designated routes.
Perhaps to herald the operation, the Kenya Police Service on Thursday sent a series of Tweets on traffic offences including on touting and illegal mounting of roadblocks by police.
An organized transport system is likely to return to the city with the introduction of high capacity buses for the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system.