Ministry Of Transport is seeking to establish control measures that would see public transport fares regulated across he country.
This is in a bid to save Kenyans from exploitation by Public Service Operators (PSVs). The Ministry of Transport has recommended a series of amendments to the Traffic Act and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Act that will see government regulate fare prices. The amendments aim at cushioning matatu operators from overcharging the public and hiking fares.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Transport and Housing committee on Tuesday, March 12, Chief Administrative Secretary Chris Obure said the proposals are at an advanced stage with the ministry’s legal department and will soon be presented for adoption by the Cabinet. “The amendments will ensure effective regulation of fare tariffs by the authority similar to the regulation of petroleum process by the Energy Regulatory Commission,” Obure told the MPs.
Further, the ministry seeks to introduce amendment of section 4 (2) of NTSA to allow for establishment of PSV fare tariffs.
Once the amendment has been effected, the CS will have a legal mandate to determine the formulae for establishing the tariff, review its mechanism and penalty for non-compliance. The committee chairman David Pkosing (Pokot South MP) said the amendments were long overdue citing the problem was rampant throughout the country.
The debate around management and control of PSV fares was brought to the floor of the National Assembly by Bomachoge Borabu MP Zadoc Ogutu. Ogutu pointed out that since reintroduction of the dreaded Michuki rules, some matatu operators had hiked fares to more than 100 % of the original prices they charged.