At least 115 vehicles, impounded during the Wednesday city traffic
chaos and their number plates plucked off, will remain off the road for
at least three months.
This came as the 36 drivers arrested during the
matatu strike were arraigned in court, charged with three counts of
stealing, obstruction and destroying public property and fined Sh100,000
each. The impounded vehicles were towed to police stations in Nairobi
for violating various traffic laws.
Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo ordered that the number
plate be surrendered to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. The Traffic Act
outlaws obstruction or abandoning a vehicle on a road and empowers the
court to fine a first offender Sh50,000 or a year in jail.
Transport
Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau condemned the strike saying that it was
wrong for anyone to hold the country to ransom.
He said in a statement that all PSV owners, who participated in the
strike, will be punished. “More severe sanctions will follow to the full
extent of the law and this will include canceling operating licences
for saccos under which the vehicles operate,” he said, adding that “No
one will be allowed to cause chaos under the pretext of seeking
justice.” However, things were back to normal by yesterday as matatus
and taxi operators resumed their work.
On Wednesday, matatu and taxi operators staged peaceful
demonstrations in the streets of City and later converged outside
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero’s office at City Hall seeking audience
with him. Kidero urged matatu operators to end the ongoing strike to
enable talks between the two sides to commence. However, PSV operators
were adamant and became unruly forcing the General Service Unit to be
called to restore order.
The early morning strike caught many commuters unawares leaving
hundreds stranded at various bus terminuses. Many were forced to hike
lifts or walk to their stations.
In some areas, PSV operators forced
commuters to alight from buses, taxis, tuk tuks and boda bodas that were
ferrying passengers causing a major traffic snarl-up in the central
business district.
Drivers of PSVs who defied calls to strike and boda
boda operators were also threatened by the irate strikers who insisted
they keep off the road. Matatus also blocked Thika Superhighway and
taxis parked along Wabera Street in protest of the increased parking
fee.
-The People
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