Matatu SACCO operators turn down Raila's request to boycott services

By Robert Mutasi

The Matatu Owners Association has dismissed calls by opposition leader Raila Odinga who has urged Kenyans to boycott public transport vehicles to ensure the government will not collect more taxes charged on petroleum products.

The association chairman Albert Karakacha said they would not agree to violate the transport laws imposed in the country.

Molo MP Kuria Kimani has referred to the co-leaders in the opposition wing as hypocrites as they would make their proposals for the bill in parliamentary sessions.

"We deny Ruto's tax bill he can extort us by force, dear Kenyans we are abandoned by our leaders,we can now look out for each other and be our brothers keepers and sisters keepers,"Raila said.

Odinga has warned Kenyans to boycott taxes in order to complain to a complex funding bill approved earlier this week by President William Ruto.

As well as the opposition leader urging Kenyans to boycott public transportation to ensure the government will not collect oil-based tariffs.

"Let us deny Ruto the fuel tax by limiting consumption of petrol and diesel, it is a right way ladies and gentlemen,cut down non-essential travel,"he said.

His call on the boycott was strongly opposed by the matatu association.

"There are laws that the government has set to follow, we carry people according to the law the capacity of is set by law, you will not say people to be carried excess because, if you carry excess and insurance he does not say carry excess,an accident in the event of it will be a problem."Said Karakacha.

"We as businessmen will work as businessmen and will not interfere in politics at all but we tell passengers we will carry those according to the law."

Karakacha said they would not agree in any way to their business being associated with the political temperature in the country.

"If you say citizens should not be carried by matatu we will not get any cent, what we say passengers come we will carry them ,we will stand firm and our businesses see how we will help citizens and political affairs we will put aside," said the chairman of Matattu SACCO.

Parliament approved the contentious proposal in the Finance Bill, 2023 to have Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel increased from the current 8 per cent to 16 per cent.