National Youth Service Director General Richard Ndubai has explained why their fares are cheaper compared to Nairobi matatus.
Addressing the press, Ndubai noted that NYS purchases fuel for the buses at a subsidised fee of around Sh43 per litre.
“We are not doing this for profit. The fare will only cater for fuel costs. Wananchi have been suffering and we hope that this will bring discipline on the roads as well as stabilise fares,” Ndubai noted.
The NYS Director also stated that fifty more buses will be introduced on Nairobi roads in the coming two months as the Government moves to ease transport for city commuters.
[caption caption="Passangers boarding NYS bus"]
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“We are about public service and meeting the needs of Kenyans, which have not been met by the other groups. Further, we only have the buses operating from Monday to Friday during rush hour,” Ndubai remarked.
Jimal Ibrahim, the matatu association chairman complained that the decision by NYS to infiltrate the transport sector was not done in good faith.
Ibrahim maintained that matatus incur high costs such as service licences commonly known as TLB, high fuel costs, and seasonal county council tickets.
“NYS buses buy fuel at a subsidised fee of around Sh43 per litre. They do not pay insurance nor do they pay for badges from National Transport and Safety Authority,” the association's chairman stated.
He further stated that matatus would drastically reduce fares if they did not pay Sh21,000 for insurance for 33-seater buses.
[caption caption="An NYS bus"]
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The association's chair further stated that the Government should concentrate on dealing with more urgent industry concerns such as poor roads.
“The Government should have instead directed the resources to maintain city roads in a deplorable state like the Mwiki, Juja, and Komarok roads,” Ibrahim stated.
