The High Court ordered the County Government to release 117 cabs it had impounded during a matatu strike last month. Photo/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 9 – The Nairobi County Government is seeking public views on developing a policy that will define the operations of taxis within the Central Business District.
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero stated that the law is among other guidelines seeking to prevent cabs from other counties from operating in Nairobi and points out that this will ensure operators in Nairobi get maximum profits.
The Governor was speaking following the handing over of number plates for taxis impounded during the PSV strike.
He waived fees for collection or storage.
“For the running of taxis in Nairobi, you as operators need to have a say. As at now, we are giving you back your number plates so that you can go and collect your vehicles in Dagoretti since I know that you have lost enough money,” he said.
The Kenya Taxi Cabs Association chairman Peter Mburu lauded the move by Kidero and expressed the operators’ commitment to ensuring a conducive working environment with City Hall.
“The Kenya Taxi Cabs Association and Nairobi County are sisters. We are not interested in chaos… we do not fight nor do we engage in politics. We are businessmen and we are interested in engaging with City Hall,” Mburu stated.
“We want the Governor to invite us one day to City Hall so that we may have a cup of tea and we may be friends,” he said.
The High Court ordered the County Government to release 117 cabs it had impounded during a matatu strike last month.
High Court Judge Isaac Lenaola ordered that the seized motor vehicles including their number plates that had been removed be released upon production of logbooks, identification documents and a negotiable fee of Sh9,000.
The judge stated that the impounding and towing fees shall be negotiable between the taxi operators and City Hall.
Kenya Taxi Cabs Association and five taxi operators had moved to court demanding the release of their vehicles and number plates which had been seized during protests by PSVs over high cost of doing business.
The taxi lobby together with Peter Mburu, Laban Maina, Peter Wanjama, Lawrence Kimani and Job Nzioka had alleged that during the demonstrations in the streets of Nairobi, taxi operators were unfairly arrested, charged and fined.
They further alleged that the Nairobi County Government had the number plates of their vehicles removed without any legal charges or demand.
They claimed that the detention and fining of taxi vehicles was discriminatory as matatu and bus operators also participated in the protests.
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