Winnie Odinga, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly, has criticised the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for its new rules affecting Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).
In a message shared on her social media on Wednesday, May 28, Winnie stated that removing tinted windows for safety reasons makes sense, but banning graffiti on matatus goes too far and harms the matatu culture.
She urged NTSA to focus on educating matatu operators instead of removing their artwork from their vehicles.
“Removing the tint is okay, but graffiti is part of the culture. Stop bullying these kids; just take them to road safety training,” she stated.
Her comments came after NTSA released a statement on Tuesday, May 27, saying that some matatus have been changed in a way that makes it hard to know which SACCO or company they belong to.
According to NTSA, the use of graffiti and other artistic enhancements prohibits its officers from identifying the name of the SACCO or the company under which the vehicle operates.
"The Authority has observed widespread non-compliance with these regulatory provisions, especially among commuter PSVs. A notable number of vehicles have been modified through the application of graffiti and other unauthorised artistic enhancements."
"This has resulted in the inability to identify the name of the SACCO or company under which the vehicle operates, its designated route, or the mandatory continuous yellow line that distinguishes licensed PSVs," the statement stated.
Many PSVs in Kenya are known for their colourful and creative graffiti, which has become part of the urban culture.
According to the Authority, the use of the unauthorised artistic features also made it difficult for law enforcement officers to identify the continuous yellow line that distinguishes licensed Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and other vehicles.
NTSA further directed all PSV operators to conduct an immediate and comprehensive audit of their fleets to ensure full compliance with the requirements of the regulations.
In the directive, the Authority warned that failure to heed the order would attract harsh measures, including vehicle impoundment, suspension and revocation of the operation licence.
