Matatu Operators Issue Countrywide Strike Notice

A countrywide crisis is looming should matatu operators make good of their their threat to down tools. The federation of the public transport sector has already issued a nationwide strike notice and warned the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

Addressing the media on Tuesday Monday, March 14, the federation warned NTSA to stop all unwarranted traffic checks and called on all their members to withdraw their vehicles from the roads.

The federation made it clear that failure by the operator to heed their demands, their countrywide strike would be staged from Wednesday, March 16.

Matatu drop-off stage at GPO along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi.

Kenyans.co.ke

The operators blamed the regulator for unwarranted compliance checks making matatu pay between Ksh5,000 to Ksh20,000.

The decision to issue a strike notice follows a series of dialogues between the operators and NTSA but failed to strike a deal o avert the looming strike.

Matatu operators further noted that the sector has not fully recovered from the effect of the pandemic, stating that the NTSA crackdown is slowing its recovery process

“We demand that govt intervenes on this matter and stops its officials from harassing and extorting money from our members forthwith, failure to which we shall on our PSV operators from the country, withdraw their vehicles from the road countrywide with effect from Wednesday, March, 16, “the federation stated.

The strike notice comes just days after Matatu Owners Association threatened to call for a nationwide strike. The chairperson of the association, Simon Kimutai. also called out NTSA for unwarranted compliance checks affecting the matatu sector.

“A crackdown is a failure by law enforcement to maintain compliance. It is in bad taste and will lead to loss of business,” Kiutai remarked.

“We feel that whereas the intention of the senior managers is good, the enforcers on the ground are there to make money through intimidation and utter demand for bribes. At the moment, we have not withdrawn our vehicles from the road but if the situation persists, we will decide if to enter into a grand halt,” Matatu Welfare Association chairman Dickson Mbugua noted.

The government announced a major crackdown starting February 28 noting that the exercise was aimed addressing the challenges leading to road traffic crashes and reducing the number of road traffic fatalities.

It was also meant at ensuring efficient and sustainable enforcement and increasing compliance with the provision of the Traffic Act and PSV Regulations.

Traffic police officers stop motorist at a checkpoint. On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, NTSA issued a warning to motorists.

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