Protesting Tuk Tuk operators block Kaunda Avenue in Mombasa. The traders are demanding an overhaul of the proposed new routes by the county government of Mombasa, which deny them access to the central business district.  [PHOTO: kevin odit/STANDARD]

By JOACKIM BWANA

Mombasa County: A threat by the Mombasa county government to evict all tricycle taxis or tuk tuk from the central business district by yesterday appeared to pass without enforcement, leading to speculation that the county administration could have quietly caved in to pressure or suspended the decree.

Despite the nuisance associated with this mode of transport, tuk tuk are a treasured form of transport and a source of income for thousands of youths, owners and the families that depend on them.

Thanks to the sector, hundreds of youth who would otherwise be jobless and idle have a way of earning a living and supporting themselves and their families.

Previously seen as a male-only-field, women have come on board and a sizeable number are operating the tuk tuk as drivers.

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Peter Njiru, one of the drivers, pays himself Sh800 per day after giving Sh1,200 to the owner and fuelling the taxi.

“I have been a tuk tuk driver for four years now. It has helped me educate my child who is in Form Two, buy a shamba and build a home. I don’t think I am ready to quit any time soon. Jobs are scarce and it is hard to find an employer who pays you Sh800 a day,” Njiru says of his work.

The tuk tuk owners too, have benefited. They receive a daily income of between Sh1,000 and 1,200 depending on their agreement with the drivers on what targets are suitable.

The government also benefits from the sector in terms of revenue collected from monthly parking fees and value added tax (VAT) from the sale of tuk tuk by traders.

Operators pay Sh600 monthly as parking fees to the Mombasa county government; Sh5,000 covers inspection fees and a further Sh5,000 monthly or Sh25,000 per year goes to insurance.   

Currently, there are over 4,000 registered tuk tuk taxis operating in the coastal region, with an approximated 2,000 others that are yet to be registered.

The taxis are popular and the most used mode of transport in and around Mombasa. They are convenient, fast and relatively cheap when it comes to running errands within the city centre. Residents prefer them to matatus as they do door-to-door drop-offs. Most average residents living in and around the city centre use them to move from one point to another.

Binti Said Mwinyi, a resident in the town, says her tuk tuk is a big help. “I use it to go to the market and shop in town because the fare is more affordable than what I would pay in a matatu,” she says.

Rush hour

Njiru adds that most clients prefer using tuk tuk during rush hour because the taxis drop them right at their work places unlike other means of public transport that drop passengers at designated spots.

To streamline operations and reduce congestion, the county government is planning to regulate tuk tuk movement within the town centre. Mombasa County Transport Minister Abdi Mohammed wants them to have a time limit of operating in the central business district.

Starting next month, they will be barred from operating along some identified areas, including Kenyatta Avenue, Moi Avenue, Nkrumah and Digo roads, within the set time.

They will be allowed to ply these routes only between 10am and 4pm. The move is aimed at reducing traffic jams during peak hours.

However, the operators say the move will affect their earnings. Raymond Mureithi, another tuk tuk operator, says the new law is definitely going to affect business and reduce their daily income. He blames the traffic snarl-ups on matatus, buses and private cars.

“We only pick clients and go, unlike matatus and buses that park on the streets, blocking roads. The areas they are restricting us to are always busy and that is where we pick most of our clients all day. A client cannot wait until the set time to take a tuk tuk; they will revert to other means of transport and that means money for us is lost,” Mureithi argues.

Mureithi says the move is aimed at getting them out of business, adding that if the minister does not back down, passengers will be most affected because the tuk tuk drivers will be forced to hike their fares.

“We will be forced to hike fares from Sh50 to Sh100 to continue meeting the tuk tuk owners’ targets and pay ourselves,” he points out.