Raila forms taskforce on matatus

By Isaiah Lucheli

The Government has formed a task force to look into grievances of matatu operators.

This follows a countrywide PSV strike that paralysed transport early this week.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, however, told the Matatu Welfare Association (MWA) that the Government would not relent in its commitment to enforce road safety.

Raila said the task force would comprise stakeholders in the matatu industry, infrastructure experts from his office and PSs in the ministries of Transport, Local Government and that of Internal Security.

"The task force will look into the grievances raised by the matatu operators and come up with recommendations to resolve the differences between the operators and law enforcers. They would submit their report in a week," said the PM.

Raila said the Government would play its role in stamping out corruption among police.

He challenged MWA to help restore sanity on the roads.

"As a Government, we will deal with the corruption on our roads, but matatu operators have the responsibility to end overloading, speeding, loud music and any other non compliance to traffic rules," he said.

The PM said operators who give out bribes are guilty of abetting the vice.

Raila added that the Government was committed to implementing recommendations handed over by a task force formed last year.

"We have already put in place an implementation committee and the next step is to address the recommendations," said Raila.

Police harassment

Among the recommendations were reduction of the number of roadblocks and harassment of matatu operators by security officers.

Raila spoke at his Treasury Building office during a meeting with MWA officials led by chairman Dickson Mbugua. MWA handed a memorandum dubbed "Constraints in the PSV transport sector".

In the memorandum, they claimed traffic police had turned into an extortionist cartel demanding bribes of between Sh5,000 and Sh10,000 from drivers and matatu owners.

"There are intensified crackdowns under the Government’s Rapid Results Initiative, with each police officer expected to impound 200 vehicles with a similar number of crew to enhance their performance at the peril of matatu operators," said Mbugua.

He also complained over demand of bribes during highway patrols and harassment of operators by the City Council askaris.