Matatus Defy Uhuru's Coronavirus Directive

NTSA officials accompanied by police inspect a matatu in Nairobi in December 2019
NTSA officials accompanied by police inspect a matatu in Nairobi in December 2019
K24 Digital

Despite President Uhuru Kenyatta issuing measures to be adopted by public service vehicles in the wake of new coronavirus cases, many matatus are yet to toe the line. 

The president, in his address to the nation on Sunday, March 15, identified the public transport sector as one of the conduits in which the virus could spread, given the number of people using it on a daily basis.

One of the directives he thus spelled out was that public service vehicles (PSVs) should provide hand sanitizers to their customers and adopt cashless payment systems to combat the possible spread of the deadly virus.

A spot check by Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, March 17, established that while many matatus had adopted hand sanitization at first, the trend has withered down and many of the vehicles have since thrown caution to the wind.

A tout stands watch at the matatu doors armed with a hand sanitizer, sterile gloves and a mask.
A tout stands at a matatu door armed with a hand sanitiser, sterile gloves and a mask.
Twitter

A spot check on the Embakasi to the CBD and the CBD to Westlands routes established that the passengers neither used cashless systems nor were they supplied with hand sanitizers when boarding.

The same was replicated for the Lower Kabete to Westlands route and also from Ngumo, to the Central Business District (CBD) and Westlands.

Many people took to social media to air their opinions on the lack of hand sanitizers in the matatus plying several routes across the city.

"Anybody who has used Githurai matatus with a sanitizer? Or even Ngumo Sacco heading to Mbagathi"? Kanana wondered.

"The biggest favour the government can do to us right now is providing free sanitizers in all public places, especially the matatus that we are blaming of not having any," Chelimo Bett added.

Apart from hand sanitizers, people interviewed by Kenyans.co.ke also revealed that they had not been offered cashless payment options despite the government's directive that the system be adopted to combat the spread of the virus.

These sentiments were echoed by Odido Owen who lamented that he had boarded a vehicle heading to Westlands but the conductors had vehemently refused mobile payments.

"It's really sad that matatus going to Westlands aren't accepting Mpesa yet the government is advocating for cashless systems," he regretted.

NTSA officials pictured inspecting a matatu on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway in December 2019
NTSA officials pictured inspecting a matatu on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway in December 2019
Twitter

A majority of matatus plying the Nairobi routes seem to have openly defied the directive which had been issued by government and echoed by the Matatu Owners Association (MOA).

Another factor observed in the matatus is the overloading of passengers despite the directive by the president that congestion in public transport be minimized wherever possible.

These sentiments were brought to light by a Derrick Ohato who shared an image on Twitter lamenting that the matatu he was in had excess passengers despite the risk.

"Even with the current situation, matatus plying from Thika town to Witeithie are carrying excess passengers. Who do we blame? Passengers or conductors?" Ohato posed.

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