Kapsabet Matatu Drivers Maintain Calm

Kapsabet, July, Wednesday 12, 2023

KNA by Geoffrey Satia

Matatu drivers in Kapsabet town conducted their business as usual Wednesday, despite protests being staged by their counterparts in several other parts of the country.

The protests came a day after Roads and Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen suspended the proposed re-testing of public service vehicle and commercial vehicle drivers, a process that kicked off on June 9.

The suspension of the process appears to have been the ministry’s response to strike threats by the Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDDCA). The association had threatened to go on strike should the ministry fail to withdraw the directive.

Despite the ministry’s suspension of the process to address concerns raised by the stakeholders, drivers took to the streets in several counties to express their dissatisfaction with the directive.

In Nandi County, however, matatu drivers carried on with their operations as usual with some stating that the suspension of the process to September 1 allowed time for dialogue.

Speaking to KNA at Kapsabet town, Kapsabet Matatu stage chairman Maurice Ekale stated that they had faith in the government and they believed all its policies were geared towards development.

“We are just requesting the government to be somehow lenient while conducting the process since these are tough economic times and many drivers are not very stable financially at the moment,” stated Mr. Ekale.

The chairman pointed out that they supported the government’s move to re-test the drivers and even install cameras in vehicles, but the process should be conducted slowly to give them time to look for money.

“I urge my fellow matatu owners and drivers in the striking counties to give the government time, even as the fuel crisis persists in countries around the world and not just Kenya,” he added.

For Mr. Phillip Rotich, a matatu driver in Kapsabet town, going to the streets was not a solution as dialogue could still work.

“We have been given time by the government and I believe with time, we will find the solutions to the problems that we are facing as matatu drivers,” he stated.

On his part, Paul Bitok, the clerk of Matatu Namasco Sacco stated that they could not stage strikes as they not only respected the government, but also the welfare of other businessmen whose companies were destroyed during protests.

“Stopping businesses I we s not a good thing as people have children to be fed, I even wonder how those people who have gone for maandamano will feed their kids,” added Paul.

Courtesy ; K. N. A