Matatu Owners Association takes action after introduction of NYS buses

lorine towett

April 4, 2018 6:46 PM

New Development

Matatu Owners Association (MOA) has taken action following the introduction of NYS buses.

NYS buses have been operational on various routes as PSV for a while now and they charge Sh. 20 only across all routes.

The MOA Chair Simon Kimutai, Inspector General of police Joseph Boinett, PublicService and Youth Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia and NTSA Director General Francis Meja faced the Senate Transport Committee on Wednesday.

The Association through its chair Simon Kimutai complained that the move to have the vehicles operating as PSVs is unfair to the private sector investment.

He based his grievances on the fact that government is tasked with the role of providing suitable environment for doing business and not taking part in competing with it.

"I don't know if the National Youth Service did a study to establish demand before bringing the buses into the market, which is already making losses," adding that its destroying business.

Kimutai reiterated that the public transport sector is undergoing loses owing to the act of traffic police demanding money with menaces on the roads.

Boinnet however dismissed Kimutai’s assertions that police officers are only on the road to engage in corruption.

The MOA Chair criticized the NYS boss for pushing for the buses to operate as PSVs despite the fact that the Transport Ministry had consented to purchasing 50 buses to curb the congestion menace.

Kobia said that the need to introduce the NYS buses in the market came about after seeing commuters in bus stops waiting for vehicles to ferry them.

"We are concerned about the congestion of people at stages. We are charging Sh20 per commuter regardless of the distance because we need Nairobians to spend less on transport and to be left with some money to improve their quality of living."

Kimutai disagreed with the claims that there are scarcity of vehicles adding that the problem is with the flow of traffic.

Boinnet dismissed claims that police officers are only on the road to engage in corruption. He then told Kimutai to ask members of the Matatu Owners Association to stop giving police dosh.

lorine towett