'Michuki Rules' Crackdown Called Off

The government on Monday evening called off the crackdown on 'Michuki Rules' after an outcry by the matatu operators.

The decision was arrived at after the matatu operators presented their grievances to Inspector-General of Police Joseph Kipchirchir Boinnet.

An intensified clampdown on matatus in Nairobi affected many commuters on Sunday and Monday with the operators opting to keep their vehicles off the roads.

The swoop netted close to 1,000 vehicles ahead of the November 12 deadline when the full crackdown is expected to take off.

"We talked to the police chief and he agreed to suspend the crackdown. We all agreed that commuters were suffering for mistakes of others," Simon Kimutai, the Matatu Owners Association chairman was quoted.

Equally, a strike by matatu operators to protest the seizure of their vehicles was called off to give room for negotiations.

"We needed to engage the government to understand what the rules were all about.

"There was conflicting information from some arms of government, with the Interior Ministry insisting on the November 12 deadline," Kimutai added.

The matatu operators further attributed the indiscipline witnessed on roads to unfair competition from non-compliant vehicles including private cars that are operating commercially.

On Monday morning, traffic Commandant Samuel Kimaru warned passengers that they will equally not be spared during the intensified operation to sanitise the transport industry.

Adding that more will be done as the December festivities approach, Kimaru iterated that those who have complied with the rules should have nothing to fear.

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