Economy
Transportation is paralyzed by the strike of private security vehicles
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Matatu operators enjoy a game at the Nyeri Main Theater during the public service vehicle strike on July 12, 2023. Image | Joseph Kanye | NMG
Transport remained disrupted in many parts of the country as operators of Matato and other Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) made good on a threat to stay off the roads due to a planned mandatory re-examination of drivers.
This forced many commuters to brave the cold morning to go to their places of work.
In Nyeri, the city’s three main bus stations remained deserted as PSV operators responded to the strike call.
Stranded passengers at the Nyeri Matato Theater on July 12, 2023.
Matato drivers and chauffeurs roamed the city, chasing down the few who were working.
Matato driver Onesmus Githinji said they will not allow some of their colleagues to continue working while they are on strike.
“Fuel prices affect all of us. If there is a strike, we should all strike. No one should benefit at the expense of others,” said Mr Githinji.
However, most shops in Nyeri town remained open as the area, seen as the base of Vice President Regati Gachagua, joined protests against the high cost of living.
PSV vehicles are parked on the streets of Elburgon township in Nakuru province on July 12, 2023.
The commuters in the town of Baumet were the worst affected, as they were forced to walk in the morning.
For the first time since the demonstrations began, public transport was affected in Baumet on Wednesday, with the main bus station deserted.
The main El Matatato stage in Baumet was deserted on Wednesday morning
Matatus was pulled from the Bumit-Naruk-Nairobi highway, Bumit-Kalong-Kisi highway and Kericho highway for fear of being attacked by protesters and also to strike for the new rules by Cabinet Secretary for Transport Kipchumba Morkumin.
In Kericho, the same scenario prevailed as matatus were pulled from the Kericho-Kisumu, Kericho-Nakuru and Kericho-Kapsabet-Eldoret highways.
In Nyandarawa, most public service vehicles bound for Nairobi remained parked in the Ol Kalu main theater and on the streets, abandoned by matatu crew and passengers.
John Karanga, a driver, said that on normal days, about a dozen Matatus ul Kalu leave for Nairobi by 8am when the stage opens, but on Wednesday morning only two left for the capital.
“Drivers and passengers fear that the situation in Nairobi will be bad because of the demonstrations. We also support the strike, and the cost of fuel is prohibitive for many passengers. We have seen a decrease in passengers going to Nairobi since fuel prices went up. We have more parcels than passengers,” the driver said.
But the his mom On-the-spot inspection detected some matatos operating to and from rural areas and between the regions of Ol Kalu, Nyahururu and Kinangop.
Some matatu operators said they were ready to return to work but feared an attack from fellow strikers.
In Mombasa, residents were forced to walk to work after Matatu operators stopped their vehicles.
There were long lines at most bus stations, with some private vehicles taking advantage of the situation to ship passengers to different parts of the island.
However, in the Bamburi district, some matatos were running as normal, although there were no school buses, a common sight in the wee hours of the morning.
In the Bakarani district of Kisauni, youths had running battles with the police as they tried to block roads.
Police were forced to fire in the air to disperse the demonstrators. Four were arrested.
A small crowd had gathered in the Mabmbene area of the city by 9:30 am in preparation for the protests. Shops were opening as usual at 8 am.
Truck drivers have also moved away from the northern corridor, affecting the transportation of goods exported from Mombasa.
On Voi, matatus is business as usual.
In the town of Voi, it is business as usual on July 12, 2023.
In Kisumu, a few matato operators woke up to commit murder by ferrying passengers to their destinations before the demonstrations began.
While most also heed the call for an industrial strike, only a few decide to collect the few coins before the lakeside town is rocked by chaos.
Many of them cruise the Kondele-Lolwe-Carwash route and Kibos-Town Service have taken women to the famous Kibuye market to open their businesses, while also running from Kisumu Main Bus Park to Nyamasaria and Ahero.
But by 9 a.m. the roads were closed, the tires on fire, and all the vehicles had returned to the various car parks.
Taxis were also far from the usual parking spots in downtown Kisumu and other areas of Condell.
The main bus station in Kisumu also remained a ghost center without vehicles.
With many shops closed, there was limited movement of people as locals stayed away from their shops and children did not report to their schools.
In Kisii, Homa Bay and Siaya, there was not a single matatu on most roads by 10am on Wednesday.
Most of the vehicles were parked at the main bus stand and travelers had to rely on motorbikes to get from one place to another. Motorcyclists took advantage of this and doubled prices.
Samson Okonjo Moss, president of the Kesei Matatu Workers’ Union, blamed the authorities for making drivers undergo refresher courses.
“I’ve been a bus driver for 15 years, and the NTSA suddenly wakes up out of nowhere and forces us to take refresher courses that are absolutely humiliating. We will never accept that,” said Moss.
He also lamented the government’s decision not to recognize the local transportation committees they formed to represent their interests.
Additional reporting by Lucas Barasa, Vitalis Kimutai, Waikwa Maina, Robert Kiplagat, Eric Matara, Lucy Maknika, Kevin Odette, Wachira Mwangi, Brian Osharu, Philip Muyanga, Rushdie Oudia and Wyclef Nyabri
