IG orders seizure of striking matatus number plates

BY CYRUS OMBATI 

NAIROBI, KENYA: At least twenty touts have been arrested in Nairobi over the early morning strike that left thousands of commutters stranded on Wednesday.

Inspector General of police said the action by the matatu operators was intolerable and number plates of taxis and matatus that blocked roads will be confiscated.

“Their number plates should be removed and handed over to the relevant authorities in the ministry of transport and infrastructure. I direct, the owners and the drivers of the vehicles that have blocked our roads and causing obstruction to be arrested and charged in court,” said Kimaiyo.

He added he had ordered that all the vehicles that had blocked the roads or caused obstruction be towed away.

The police boss said motorists’ grievances can be heard without blocking or obstructing the road to other road users and that the heinous act will not be tolerated.

Taxis had also joined the protests.

A section of Nairobi commuters were Wednesday morning forced to walk as some matatu operators blocked major routes to protest high parking fees by County Government. 

The matatus blocked parts of Thika Road at Pangani, Outerring in Mutindwa, Jogoo Road and other few routes. Few routes said services were normal. 

This marked the start of a strike they had announced Tuesday to protest the hike of parking fee and levy charged on Thika Road.  

Several passengers were forced to walk to their destinations after the matatus withdrew their services. Others had to rush to railway stations to catch up with the train as anti-riot police moved in to address the crisis. 

Some operators attacked and robbed private cars on Jogoo Road as the crisis went on, police said. 

Nairobi police boss Benson Kibue said they had received several complaints from passengers and motorists and that police had been mobilised to provide security. 

“We have sent teams to deal with these hooligans who are harassing people on the affected routes,” he said. 

The matatu operators say they had been betrayed by the governor who had promised to reduce the fee in a Monday deal.  

Council staff overturned the deal and said the fee must be paid until they are reduced by the MCAs or courts. They told the operators first to withdraw the case they have lodged at the Court of Appeal and start lobbying MCAs who will address their grievances. 

“The fees were increased by the County Government Assembly and there is no way the Governor can reduce them. And besides that, the operators have lodged a case in court and by trying to negotiate the fee will be tantamount to contempt,” said one senior staff at City Hall. 

The Nairobi Metropolitan Union claimed the county government had agreed to tentatively lower parking fees for them from March.

The union said 14-seater matatu owners were to pay Sh3,650 down from Sh5,000 while 41-seater matatus would pay Sh5,500 down from Sh8,000. 

Official Godfrey Okumu said some operators had paid up to Sh1 million on Tuesday following the agreement but others were turned away later by County officials who had opposed the agreement, which could not be effected without changing the law. 

Under the new law, parking in the CBD costs Sh300. Those who will damage a pole will be charged Sh120,000 while damaging of clamps will attract a fine of Sh30,000. Seasonal tickets for salon cars will attract Sh5,000 a month up from Sh2,000 while taxis will pay Sh6,000 a month. 

Those who want to reserve parking bays will have to pay Sh1,000 daily while motorbikes and tuk tuks will pay Sh2,000 a month to be allowed to operate.

Road side activities will attract Sh12,000 a day.  

A 14-seater matatu will pay Sh5,000 a month while a 42-seater minibus will part with Sh8,000. Pick ups will pay Sh6,000 a month lorries Sh20,000 and trailers Sh40,000.