Matatu operators threaten to go on strike over speed governor

Officials of matatu owners in the Mt Kenya region speaking to the press on Wednesday. [Joseph Muchiri, Standard]

Matatu owners in the Mt Kenya region have threatened to paralyse business to protest a government directive requiring them to install new speed governors into their vehicles.

They want the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) to rescind the directive saying it is costly to install the new types of speed governors in their motor vehicles and remove the
ones earlier recommended.

The representatives of matatu owners from Nairobi, Nyeri, Nakuru, Meru, Embu Muranga
Laikipia Kirinyagah Tharakanithi and Kitui are among those who met at Prime Hotel in Embu town to oppose the directive.

Led by Abraham Gichovi, Rufus Kariuki, Francis Manyeki, and Wanja Karuku, they complained that investors in the matatu industry were overburdened by being forced to install different types of speed governors after a few years.

“We are just being ambushed during inspections and told to change to new ones. The current speed governors are effective and they enable NTSA to monitor our vehicles very well in case of violation of laws.  What is the point of changing them,” wondered Gichovi.

He decried high cost of the new speed governors at between about Sh35000 to Sh40,000 compared to the previous ones that retailed at Sh25,000.

“It’s becoming difficult to operate matatu business comfortably due to the many stringent and costly rules. We urge the government to engage us in talks over this issue to reach an amicable agreement. In the meantime we appeal to the government to release the vehicles detained for failing to install the new gadgets,” said Wanja.

The group read mischief in the new directive stating that some people could have colluded to make money supplying the new gadgets.

They warned that unless the directive is withdrawn, they go on strike