UPDATE Tuesday, July 28: Migori became the latest town to have their matutus strike after several buses and shuttles were impounded by police due to lack of Covid-19 certificates.
The situation left hundreds of passengers plying the Migori-Nairobi route stranded with no alternatives available to use.
This comes after matatus from Nakuru and Njoro downed their tools citing lack of Covid-19 certificates.
Matatus in Nakuru downed their tools on Tuesday, July 28 after more than 50 vehicles were impounded due to lack of a Covid-19 certificate.
The matatu operators also claim that they were snubbed by Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe during his visit to the county when they tried to address him on their plight.
"We are having an issue with the new terminus. Where we are now located there is no office. When Mutahi Kagwe was here about two weeks ago we tried to flag him down but he did not stop.
"These are some of the issues we wanted to address to him, because due to the rains, people are overcrowding in matatus to shelter because we have no offices," noted Chairman of the Matatu Town Service Francis Njoroge.
The matatu operators want to return to their previous stage after being moved to Ziwani from the main terminus by the County Government of Nakuru as part of measures to curb Covid-19.
Njoroge revealed that the strike was due to a crackdown targeting matatus that failed to produce Covid-19 certificate as directed by the Ministry of Transport.
The matatu owners claim that they have tried to get tested but have failed due to lack of enough testing kits in the county.
Over 50 matatus were impounded in the crackdown and have asked for more time to comply because the certificates are supposed to be revised regularly.
Elsewhere in Njoro, matatu operators are also suffering the same fate after being asked by police officers to produce Covid-19 certificates and vowed not to return on the roads until the situation is sorted.
Laban Ngugi a matatu operator, asked for more time to comply with the directive as they continue to serve the people.
Ngugi also blamed matatu saccos for delaying the release of a certificate signed by the County Commissioner which is also required.
