NAIROBI:Striking PSV to be kept off the roads for 3 months

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