Passengers who spit to pay Sh10,000 fine or be jailed

Uasin Gishu, Kenya: The assembly assented to the Transport Bill 2014 which contains a raft of measures among them a Sh10,000 fine or three month imprisonment for PSV passengers who spit.

The bill, recently tabled at the assembly by the roads, public works and electricity committee chairman, Isaac Chirchir, seeks to ensure road safety and restore sanity in the county’s transport sector.

Speaking to The Standard, Chirchir said the bill will stem road indiscipline while it will be upon commuters and drivers to present those who break the law to the nearest police station.

“We want to preserve the health of everyone using our public transport. Those fond of spitting will be provided with a bag before commencement of the journey and they violate the law at their own risk,” he said.

The chairperson also said the bill will pave way for establishment of a Transport and Safety Board comprising six members which is meant to develop a comprehensive and balanced road safety policy for the county.

STRINGENT MEASURES

Mr Chirchir said the board will also be mandated to ensure that vehicles are parked at designated areas in order to de-congest roads at the town.

“The board will be required to constantly appear before the assembly transport committee to detail its progress as well as make recommendations for improving the transport sector,” he said.

According to the bill, the county government will provide directives on where heavy commercial vehicles pass as well as ensuring taxis and motorcycles have a designated stage away from the central business district.

“It is currently very difficult to identify a genuine taxi operator because there is no provision by the county government which ought to have a registered all operators under a Sacco and put them at a designated area,” he said.

Assembly majority, Josphat Lowoi who is also a member of the transport committee, said the bill gives the board power to review public fares which are constantly hiked.

“There shall be a maximum fine of Sh100,000 or a six months’ jail term for any individual who exploits the public by increasing fares without approval,” he said.

PASSENGERS RIGHTS

Mr Lowoi said the bill will also protect passengers rights and those drivers who abandon commuters due to vehicle faultiness will face stiff penalties.

“It will be the duty of every driver to ensure that passengers who disembark from a faulty vehicle not only get another one but they are not charged again. Abandoning them before they arrive at their destination will not be tolerated,” he said.

Lowoi said the bill shall be instrumental in maintaining roads which are destroyed by heavy trucks plying along the main highway adding that the county government will use the revenue collected for development purposes.