Public service vehicle operators have announced a nationwide
strike starting Monday, citing a surge in incidents where boda boda riders have
allegedly torched matatus and other vehicles.
The Matatu Owners Association (MOA), led by chairperson Albert
Karakacha, accused the government of failing to hold those responsible to
account, despite repeated reports to security agencies and transport
authorities.
He said matatu owners no longer felt protected by the state,
adding that their only remaining option was to down tools.
“Our vehicles have been burned; we talked to the police, we have written to the transport minister and nothing has happened. From
Monday, we will withdraw all vehicles from the roads until the government listens
to us,” Karakacha said.
The operators further threatened to take the law into their own
hands, accusing the government of failing to secure private property.
Despite noting that they were not seeking to take the law into their own hands, they said the authorities had failed in their duty, and alluded to possible retaliatory actions.
“We will bring back boys who have been manning our
businesses because the police cannot protect us,” said Karakacha.
Inter-Corridor Mobility chairperson Joseph Kagai added, “We don’t want to take the law into our hands, but it seems those supposed to protect us have other businesses,” he said.
“We want to remind boda boda people that before the formation of the matatu industry, we had something called ‘kamjesh’. If the government is not able to protect us, anywhere a boda rider will stop and start stoning a matatu, all vehicles will stop there and deal with them.”
Kagai warned
that the situation was becoming increasingly difficult to control, adding that
the strike would paralyse transport across the country.
“The situation is slowly becoming uncontrollable, and we
don’t understand how the government is losing authority and security of
property of our investors,” Kagai said.
“From Monday, we will make sure that in all major towns, cities
and roundabouts in the country, there will be no passing until the government addresses
this. There will be no business as usual since we will be carrying out a
countrywide strike of any four-wheeled vehicle and above,” he said.
The transport operators said they would also demand compensation
for owners whose vehicles have been destroyed.
According to the groups, two vehicles — one matatu and
one private car — were torched over the weekend, while at least nine
vehicles have been burned in the past six months, with no arrests made.
“Everyone has heard that a truck was torched yesterday, a
matatu was torched on Friday, and many private vehicles are being burned. Boda
boda operators have become the judge, jury and executioner,” Motorists
Association of Kenya (MAK) chairperson Peter Murima said
The groups now want President William Ruto to intervene
since all the relevant authorities have, in the past, turned a deaf ear.
The only person we are going to listen to is the
President because the NTSA, the CS — nobody is listening,” Karagkacha said.