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Matatu association backs govt over UmoInner

A train rammed onto a matatu, dragged it for several metres killing 12 people. Photo/FILE

A train rammed onto a matatu, dragged it for several metres killing 12 people. Photo/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 – The Matatu Welfare Association has supported the decision by the government to cancel operating licenses for UmoInner Sacco, whose bus was involved in an accident that left 12 people dead and scores injured last week.

Association Chairman Dickson Mbugua says the move is aimed at bringing sanity in the sector that has been blamed for the rising road carnage in the Country.

Mbugua said the government should revoke licenses of all public vehicle flouting traffic rules to avert road deaths.

“We have been experiencing various road accidents in the country which is a very sad trend,” he said. “The Sacco management and companies should start educating their crew to make sure they are competent.”

He said the rising road accident rate could be reduced if the PSV industry is regulated by both the owners of the vehicles, the Sacco and the relevant government agencies.

He added that corruption in the traffic department had also contributed to rising cases of road accidents across the country.

The Sacco has since moved to court seeking the release of its grounded fleet.

In the petition, the Sacco says the decision by government to revoke its operation and grounding over 150 vehicles following the Wednesday morning accident at the Mutindwa rail crossing was vindictive and unfair and was reached without legal grounding.

The decision to cancel the Transport Licensing Board (TLB) licenses for UmoInner Sacco was announced by Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau.

The Sacco said that it is incurring unjustified and unwarranted punitive losses of millions of shillings every day its vehicles remain grounded on illegal and unlawful basis.

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UmoInner Sacco told Justice Weldon Korir that Kamau and The National Transport and Safety Authority had arbitrarily seized, detained and removed its buses TLB licenses, number plates, drivers PSV badges and detained its crews.

Justice Korir allowed the company to commence proceedings against The National Transport and Safety Authority and the minister saying he was satisfied that UmoInner had established an arguable case.

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