Public Service Vehicle (PSV) owners have issued a list of demands to the government following a disruptive incident on the busy Narok-Mai Mahiu Highway. The local community blocked the road for over 24 hours last Friday in protest against the killing of their livestock by a speeding vehicle.
Matatu owners have now called on the government to expand the Narok-Mai Mahiu-Suswa road to prevent transport from being paralysed for hours during such protests.
The Matatu owners and stakeholders have highlighted that numerous companies have incurred significant losses due to transport disruptions and delays, which are frequent along the stretch.
The stakeholders have urged the government to construct road underpasses for livestock crossings to prevent incidents of vehicles hitting animals.
The matatu stakeholders have criticised the government for prioritising the construction of underpasses on other roads, such as the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway, despite the Narok road serving a significant number of livestock farmers. They argued that this disparity was unfair, given the road's importance to the farming community.
"The stretch from Mai Mahiu, Isebania, Kisii to Kisumu lacks any underpasses. The government should construct them, especially around Suswa, where many livestock cross the road," the stakeholders stated in a statement.
"If you look at the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, there are numerous underpasses that enable the safe crossing of livestock."
Additionally, the stakeholders revealed that passengers often suffer the most, with some being forced to spend their nights in the cold due to prolonged disruptions.
The protests, which prompted a strong response from stakeholders, turned violent when a police officer was severely injured after angry residents attacked him, chopping off one of his arms during the standoff.
The officer, along with his colleagues, was ambushed by residents of Duka Moja in Narok, causing transport to be paralysed for hours.
The standoff erupted after a Toyota Prado heading to Kisii on Thursday night struck a herd of livestock, killing over 40 sheep.
In response, the National Police Service (NPS) announced the transfer of all police officers stationed at Duka Moja and Ntulele Police Stations, the epicentre of the conflict.
The Narok-Mai Mahiu-Suswa Road is a vital component of Kenya’s national road network, facilitating the movement of Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) between Nairobi and the South Rift region.
The road is also critical for transit trailers and long-distance vehicles transporting goods to neighbouring Uganda.
"I want to assure you that by Monday, we will have transferred all the officers and replaced them with a new team," stated William Ole Yiampoi, the Director of Operations at NPS.