The programme that started in 2002 saw 550 matatu crews trained but was incapacitated by lack of funds and the trained crew were soon poached by Non-Governmental Organizations and corporates.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 27 – The Matatu Welfare Association on Friday announced that it is reintroducing a programme to train matatu drivers.
Dickson Mbugua the national chairman said the current driving schools are not up to standards and this results in the high road carnage that has been recently observed.
“The driving schools we have do not comprehensively teach the drivers what is required on the roads, others issue licences without training at all after being given a bribe to do so,” Said Mbugua
Mbugua also asked the Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to work with the association as they spearhead streamlining the matatu industry.
“We urge the Nairobi Governor to expand the matatu terminus to strategic areas outside the Central Business District where the passengers can access them depending on the routes so that we don’t have matatus and motorbikes within the city centre,” added Mbugua.
He insisted that there is a great need to have the 14 seater vehicles that were scheduled for phasing out, saying that they are convenient in major urban areas where buses are uneconomical to operate and asked for a review of the policy and retain them.
Speaking on graft seen on the roads between police and matatu crew, he asked the government to legalize the instant fine ticket bond system that requires traffic offenders to pay their fines within seven days instead of the current system of taking them to court.
He also asked matatu Sacco’s to monitor and entrench the safety rules and regulations at the grassroots levels saying the Sacco’s can act as law enforcers for the matatus that they are in charge of.
Speaking at the association’s Annual General Meeting, Mbugua asked the owners to take responsibility for the activities of their vehicles and fire rogue drivers who are causing havoc on the roads.
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