By Standard Team

NAIROBI; KENYA: Transport remained paralysed across the country as matatu operators continued to stay away from roads to protest the new traffic laws.

This forced many commuters to walk to their destinations as the few operators who were on duty hiked fares skyward.

Nairobi commuters were the hardest hit as they were forced to trek through a morning drizzle.

Some matatu operators said they were ready to return to work but feared being attacked by their striking collleagues.

Chairman of the Union of Tours and Travel Employees of Kenya David Njeru said they had called off the strike and returned to the roads but some operators are using this as an excuse to harass innocent Kenyans.

“What we ask for is police protection because our members are ready to be back on the roads but some crooks have been attacking vehicles,” he said after meeting Nairobi Area police boss Moses Ombati.

Rowdy touts

Ombati said he had formed squads of police to patrol various routes to contain marauding youths who were blocking roads and attacking the few operating vehicles.

Police said that Ngong, Ongata Rongai, Komarock, Kayole, Umoja, Kikuyu, Utawala, Embakasi, Dagoretti , Muranga, Juja/Thika, Banana and Nyeri and nearby routes were some of the most affected routes.

In Nakuru, commuters decided to board personal cars while traders and farmers incurred losses as they could not be able to move the goods from one town to the other.

And in Coast, rowdy touts and drivers tried to disrupt traffic in Kilifi and Mombasa causing a snarl-up. A least 100 people were arrested over the weekend for flouting the new traffic rules. Matatu operators also disrupted traffic in Machakos.

Things were not different in Siaya County where passengers had to return to their homes.

Motorbike operators capitalised on the business by hiking normal fares by100 per cent. From Siaya to Ugunja they increased the fare from Sh200 to Sh400. Those travelling from Siaya to Luanda parted with Sh400 from the normal fare of Sh100.

In Eldoret, operations were normal for the better part of the morning until noon when operators were informed of security threats along Nakuru-Nairobi highway.

Charles Njihia, General manager North Rift shuttle services Eldoret, said no vehicle had been sent to Eldoret from Nairobi forcing them to halt operations.

“We have been calling our drivers to be vigilant along the way because of security threats that we have been informed of along Nakuru highway. Meanwhile, some of our cars have been forced suspend operations on the way due to threats,” he said.

The situation in Kirinyaga, was aggravated after boda boda operators also withdrew their services, leaving scores of travellers stranded in various bus terminuses. Private vehicles were also barred from travelling between Kutus and Kerugoya road after it was barricaded.

Travellers were also stranded in major towns of Kakamega, Bungoma, Mumias, Malaba and Busia with operators vowing not to return to work.

Most KCPE candidates’ parents were adversely affected as they could not attend prayer meetings for their children. While in Embu candidates and invigilators who were headed to schools for rehearsals were stranded.

Fear of reprisal

Mumias Bus Park remained deserted in the morning with commuters waiting anxiously for Good Samaritans to offer them alternative means of transport.

However, Kisumu and Naivasha operators ignored calls to join the strike and went on with their business as usual.

According to the operators in Naivasha, they had decided to go back to work despite the fear of reprisal by their colleagues who are on strike. One operator, Tom Karanja said they had made huge losses during their strike and inconvenienced innocent passengers.

“We cannot wait and see innocent Kenyans suffering because of the traffic rules and that is why we decided to carry on with our work this morning,” Karanja said.