The Matatu Welfare Association (MWA) wants the cashless fare system made voluntary.
MWA claims the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is pushing for the system with an iron fist and now wants Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau to repeal the cashlight compliance as a requirement for Public Service Vehicles inspection and road service licence issuance.
MWA Chairman Dickson Mbugua said technological applications could not be forced on people, adding that the system should be made gradual to allow people understand its implications.
"It is not that we are resistant to change. But even when automatic teller machines and M-Pesa came into effect in 1990 and 2006 respectively, it was not forced on people. Over time and through rigorous campaigns, they picked up after realising the convenience and benefits. We expect the same from NTSA," said Mr Mbugua at a press conference in Nairobi last week.
He noted that banks providing the service model were not fully ready both in terms of equipment and inter-operational ability platforms. The association claimed NTSA was using the cashless system to regulate the transport sector.
Proved beneficial
"The PSV industry players will adopt the cashlight fare collection system once proved to be more beneficial than the current manual collections," said MWA Vice Chairman John Katimbwa.
Mr Katimbwa said besides producing a cashlight compliance certificate, PSV owners were being forced to part with Sh10,000 and above for the contracts with banks yet banks had no till equipment.
"This means PSV owners are advancing the service providers in order to procure the equipment. This is the same rip-off process witnessed during the digital speed governors compliance early this year," said Katimbwa.
MWA warned that failure by Kamau to withdraw the directive that all PSVs must be cashlight compliant before getting the road service licence would result in a nationwide strike.
"Hundreds of PSVs will be grounded yet they are mechanically sound. This is uncalled for and is tantamount to coercion and intimidation. If Transport Secretary Kamau does not rescind this directive, we will decide whether to ground all PSVs for an agreed period or go to court," he said.
The decision on what step to take will be reached at the association's national delegates conference in two weeks' time.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join