The ongoing lies being peddled by Matatu owners is that the government has banned graffiti on public vehicles.
In fact this is the only reason that rogue owners are using as basis for their strike that started on Monday. The strike brought the city into a standstill as most commuters either had to walk to work or pay tripled fares.
But it has now emerged that the government has no issue with graffiti aslong as they adhere to rules set two years ago, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has said.
Speaking in Nyeri County on Monday, Director-General Francis Meja said the artwork will not be taken down as long as it does not block windows and cover sacco names.
Mr Meja said action will only be taken against operators who do not adhere to this and other related requirements. “We want to see what is happening inside [the matatus]. Nobody said all public transport vehicles should have a single colour,” he said.
“There is a misconception that we are against graffiti. That is not the case. We set regulations on graffiti and that is what we will enforce.”
An earlier statement by Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett left matatu owners uneasy as it emerged that authorities would go against President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to lift the ban on all graffiti.
The president lifted the ban imposed by the NTSA in 2016 to promote entrepreneurial art and culture.
In an interview on a local television station, Mr Boinnet linked graffiti to gangsters and violence. “I celebrate our culture and love art but not one that celebrates gangsters or violence,” the police boss said.
The NTSA boss also scoffed at threats by a section of motorists to stop their operations over the enforcement of Michuki rules, which are primarily aimed at reducing cases of road carnage.
Mr Meja dared transporters to do as they please and insisted that the operation will be sustained. “We will not relent. There are those who have complied and are willing to stay in business but the non-compliant ones want to drag them into grounding their vehicles. They are free to do so,” he said.