There is a looming showdown after Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i responded to a strike notice issued by matatu operators for Monday.
Speaking during a church fundraiser in Nakuru, the CS insisted that crackdown was still on and that the state was determined to end all the madness experienced on the roads.
“There is no turning back from Monday, they must comply,” stated Matiang’i.
He further revealed that his ministry would deploy more officers on the set date to assist in the crackdown after he discovered that most of those who perished were young people.
He further added that the transport industry’s troubles often slow down the economic growth of the country.
Matatu operators had earlier vowed to withdraw their services so as to align with the new transport industry guidelines.
Addressing the issue, the Federation of Public Transport Operators stated that they had written to the Ministry of Transport seeking clarification over a myriad of issues set to be implemented.
"We would like to advise our members to withdraw their services on Monday for the purposes of aligning our operations to the new guidelines," stated the organisation’s chairman Edwin Mukabana.
They wanted clarification over the rules demanding they change all vehicles colour to white, replace all speed governors including those that could be serviced and why vehicle owners will be charged in case of traffic violations.
According to road accident statistics released by the National Transport and Safety Authority, 2,626 people lost their lives while more than 3,200 others sustained injuries in road accidents in 2018 alone.
The state has widened the traffic offenders net to include the passengers, matatu operators, owners, insurance firms and body builders in the new rules to be implemented.
