Kenya's Matatu owners issue protest threat

The Matatu Welfare Association has threatened a nationwide protest after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) suspended the Embassava Sacco following a gruesome road accident by one of its vehicles last week.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi yesterday, the association chairman, Dickson Mbugua, condemned NTSA for banning the entire sacco, saying it is not mandated to give the ban.

The protest, which is scheduled for July 1, will involve a march of matatu owners, drivers and conductors to Uhuru Park where they will assemble as they wait for official communication from the higher authority.

In response, Director General Director General Francis Meja, while speaking at a press conference at the NTSA headquarters, Nairobi cautioned matatu operators who intend to be part of a nationwide protest to be ready to exit the industry.

Meja condemned operators’ ‘far-fetched’ allegations against NTSA, saying that matatu associations only complain when NTSA tries to bring reforms, but “never come on board against traffic violations”.