Transport Principal Secretary Nduva Muli pointed out that once fully implemented, they are confident the new regulations will drastically reduce accidents in the country/FILE
Speaking during a Cabinet briefing on the Ministry’s performance on Tuesday, Transport Principal Secretary Nduva Muli pointed out that once fully implemented, they are confident the new regulations will drastically reduce accidents in the country.
“The regulations that are currently under implementation are about creating a sense of self regulation among the operators of Public Service Vehicles. And regulations and their implementation is not an event, it is a process. We are working with all the stakeholders to ensure that they comply,” he said.
The PS also defended the order to remove carriers from buses, saying it is aimed at improving the vehicles stability.
“We are working with all the stakeholders to ensure that they comply. We are working to support them to comply, for example at the vehicle inspection, today we have inspected over 500 vehicles and cleared them, we are working late to ensure that they comply with the regulations so that we can make our public service transport safe,” he said.
Commuters in most parts of the country were Tuesday morning stranded as most PSVs kept off the road due to their non-compliance with the new safety regulations.
The few vehicles that were on the roads cashed in on the situation by charging high fares, even though most of them did not reach the actual destinations. READ Crisis looms as court declines to halt PSV rules
“I stay in Kangemi and when I went to the stage, there were no matatus. I work in Westlands and I had to pay Sh50 up to my office,” stated Jared Otieno said one of the commuters said.
“I passed by the stage when I was coming to town and I had to load my car which is a five-seater with seven guys and yes, I charged them Sh200 each and they accepted,” an owner of a personal car stated.
A spot-check by Capital FM News showed that most of the vehicles were stationed at their termini while being fitted with the digital speed governors before they are inspected for compliance.
Many of the operators said that they are racing against time to fit the new gadgets to avoid incurring more losses.
“These regulations are not bad, especially the one which requires us to be paid every month end. I see that as a good idea because you are assured of getting something at the end of the month,” stated John Njuki, a bus driver.
“However on the speed governors, they should have extended the time required for us to fit them because we have to fit them and at the same time ensure that we take our vehicles to be inspected,” another driver said.
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