Incentives needed for matatu operators to support BRT initiative

BRT lanes along Thika super highway in Nairobi. [File, Standard]

Bus rapid transport (BRT) can bring efficiency into Kenya’s transport sector, but needs deeper reflection on how it can benefit more than 70,000 workers in the industry.

The matatu industry is thought of in terms of chaos, extortion, disorganisation, harassment, noise and corruption. However, underneath this messy web is a huge ecosystem of youth looking for a living, women looking to feed their families, shoe shiners, newspaper vendors and even corporate organisations that use the matatu industry to push their agenda.