Matatu operators have announced plans to stage a nationwide strike beginning Monday next week due to the alleged torching of their vehicles by boda boda operators.
Addressing the press on Wednesday, January 28, the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators accused the government of allegedly failing to adequately address incidents of violence meted out against them.
The operators expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of protection by the government despite the transport sector being one of the country’s largest taxpayers.
“Most matatus are not insured, so we are asking the government, which is mandated to protect all citizens, to also protect us as a sector,” one of the operators said.
He added that paying taxes was not the problem, but rather the absence of adequate protection for their vehicles, noting that they should not be set ablaze.
The operators noted that taxes paid by the transport sector are the ones that sustain the government’s recurrent budget, including fuel levies used to maintain roads.
They argued that it is unfair for the same roads funded by their contributions to be used while their businesses remain exposed to violence and destruction by the boda boda sector.
Warning of a tougher stance, the matatu operators said the situation was fast becoming unmanageable and that patience within the sector was wearing thin.
“If a vehicle is torched henceforth, we are going to have a big issue with whoever will do that,” the operators warned, adding that no meaningful arrests or official reports have been made following recent incidents.
The operators said that from Monday, February 2, they will not only down their tools but also block all major roads and highways across the country.
“On Monday, we shall not just lay down our tools; we are going to ensure that the roads that are maintained by the money we pay in the fuel levy are blocked,” the operators affirmed.
“There will be no passing until the government addresses our concerns. We have not seen any arrests or reports,” they added.
The latest pronouncement comes amid concerns over the growing tendency of boda boda operators resorting to violence and burning vehicles involved in accidents.
Just a week ago, a matatu was set ablaze by an irate mob in Nairobi after the driver allegedly hit a pedestrian and attempted to flee the scene.
The Forward Travelers Sacco matatu was torched by furious residents following the incident, which took place along Juja Road.
In a separate incident in November last year, a mob of boda boda riders set ablaze a 33-seater minibus after the vehicle reportedly knocked down their colleague near Mama Lucy Hospital in Embakasi Central
The incident, which took place along the Kangundo road, occurred after the vehicle attempted to swerve to avoid a collision with another oncoming vehicle.