NAKURU, KENYA: Matatu owners in Nakuru have asked the Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau to suspend the implementation of the cashless fare payment system set to be adopted by all Public Service Vehicles (PSV) and address their concerns first.
Citing lack of public awareness, high cost of the new equipment among other impediments, the owners said they are already reading mischief in the speed with which the government is using police crack downs in Nairobi to push for compliance.
Representing the over 4, 000 matatu owners in Nakuru town, Nakuru Central Matatu Sacco chairman Steven Muli argued that they need more time as the system is new and the process of fixing the new digital equipment is equally time-consuming and expensive.
According to Muli, the matatu sector has undergone numerous revolutions in the recent past noting that the recent move by the government wanting them to install digital speed governors brought operators to a near financial cripple.
"We need more time. The conductors need time to be sanitised on how to operate the system, commuters too need time to obtain their cards and all these processes need time," said Muli.
Muli who revealed to The Standard that none of the over 4,500 matatus operating within Nakuru has been fitted with the cashless systems which, according to him, costs Sh25, 000 per vehicle.
"Not even a single owner in Nakuru has fitted their PSVs yet we know it will be us after they are through with Nairobi crews," said Muli.
He, however said that they are not opposed to the system since it will be to the advantage of the vehicle owners but cried foul in the hasty manner in which the government is subjecting them.
But Evans Nyakundi, the chairman of Ngata 2NV Sacco observed that the system would complicate the situation when unforeseen breakdowns happens to a crew while en-route saying that commuters would face unnecessary delays as the crew await money to be sent by bosses since no one is allowed to travel with cash.
Nyakundi also wondered how people living in the interior parts of the country who seldom go out would appreciate the digital platform.
"How does the government expect that person in the village to learn the new technology overnight? We are not opposing the system but other issues need to be addressed first. It appears like someone wants to benefit from the system," said Nyakundi.
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