Nairobi County Assembly has before it a proposal to control public transport charges within the county.
Titled The Nairobi City County Public Road Transport and Traffic Management Act 2018, the new regulations will require matatu operators to notify the county of any plans to change fares.
“No change shall be made in any rate, fare or charge which shall have been filed and published by a county transport service provider in compliance with this Act.
The proposed law further states that, “All charges made or demanded by any such person or transport service provider for the transportation of the passengers or property… shall be just and reasonable and not more than allowed by law or order of the county executive in charge of transport.”
Matatu operators will be fined Ksh500,000 or sentenced to six months in jail or both for violating the law.
The stiff penalties are aimed at protecting Nairobi residents from exploitation by public transport service providers amid an increasing cost of living.
Nairobians are often taken advantage of by various matatu operators who hike fares during peak hours, rainy weather, shortage of PSVs or during a crackdown.
During a matatu crackdown, in November 2018, PSV operators increased prices with some going as far as tripling the normal rates.
Some of the exorbitant fare charges as established by Kenyans.co.ke included Umoja to CBD Ksh350, Rongai to CBD Ksh300, Kangemi to CBD Ksh100 and Donholm to Mlolongo Ksh350.
This left many commuters stranded with some having to walk long distances to get to their destinations.
