After two day of walking from home to place of work. Nairobi residents get a relieve after the Matatu Welfare Association agrees to call off the strike. This comes after M.W.A after a talk with the transport PS on review of the new traffic law.
Here is part of the law which made the PSV to go on strike leaving Kenyans on the roads walking.
“The Traffic (Amendment) Act a. Number plates: When you sell your vehicle, you should surrender the number plates to the registrar of motor vehicles. Remember to surrender the number plates to the registrar otherwise you risk being arrested and fined
b. Overlapping, obstruction, driving on pavement or through a petrol station to avoid traffic: You risk a fine of Kshs 100,000 -300,000 or One year in jail or both
c. Over speeding: When you over speed, you risk a fine of Kshs 10,000 or 3 months imprisonment or both
d. Careless Driving: Penalty of Ksh 500,000 or 10 years imprisonment or both
e. Careless driving causing death: Life Imprisonment. This is being treated like murder.
f. Driving under influence of alcohol: A fine of Ksh 500, 000 or ten years in jail or both.
g. PSV Operators: Should adhere to the uniforms and badges rules
h. Motor Cycle operators: ONE PASSENGER only and the passenger and rider must be in reflective vests and helmets- otherwise you risk a fine of Kshs 10,000 and in default 12 months imprisonment,’ the law says.
The law is to be effected tomorrow. The biggest question is, are M.W.A trying to oppose and increase car accident rates?
According to the statistics, so far 2,800 people have died and we have not entered December. What about those who die and they are not counted? What about those who are left injured and paralyzed?
Are they trying to support this? Which picture are they trying to show the younger generations? Do they care for the families who are left homes or anything that is damaged during the strike? Vehicles were stoned yesterday after some drivers ignored the strike. Am not trying to say unity is not good. It is, but the question is, can’t they do it peacefully?
The law was made to reduce the number of road accidents not to humiliate the matatus industry.
Even with Michuki rules there are matatus which carry 24 passengers’. The holiday is coming, the on pick hour for this matatu industry. They raise the bus fare which we will be okey with if well and comfortably driven. They pack people like cabbages on a sack and some kill them.
Most of the routes especially on central province should use these laws. This is the only region which is known in packing a 14seater matatus with 24 passengers.
The government should not bow down of this one. The laws should not be formed to ensure safety and be destroyed. Go government go. Make railway stations in the whole country and let the trains carry people to their destinations.
Matatus has strikes for two day because of the new traffic law in Kenya which is to be effected tomorrow. This has paralyzed transport in different parts of the country most affected being Nairobi
M.W.A should stand on their feet and say no to traffic police who are still on T.K.K movement. We do not need this in Kenya. Where is Michuki? Who is succeeding him and impact this traffic laws?
Traffic police! Eat from your sweat stop humiliating the matatus industry. In fact the government should make another bill for these police who demand money from conductors.
If they will not charge the lesson will be learn soon in their lives. Let them know no gain without pain.
We are tired of Matatu strike everyday because of police. In stead of keeping order and ensuring ‘Utumishi kwa wote’ and not humiliation to all if they still remember their vows. If not let the commanders remind them publically so that the citizens can hear and remind them when they forget.