The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has disrupted Kenya’s public transport sector by suspending 121 public service vehicle (PSV) saccos for breaching safety regulations. The crackdown, targeting violations of Section 5(1) of the NTSA (Operations of PSVs) Regulations, 2014, leaves thousands of commuters stranded nationwide, as major players like Crown Bus, Hannover Swift Trans, and St. Mary’s Transport Sacco have been forced to halt operations.
Crown Bus, a significant operator on routes linking Mombasa, Nairobi, and Kisumu, has been particularly affected, creating uncertainty for long-distance travelers who rely on its services. Other prominent operators, such as Kinatwa Sacco and Salty Investments, also face similar suspensions, aggravating commuter woes in Nairobi and other regions.
In a statement, the NTSA said, “This is to notify the public that the Authority has suspended 121 PSVs- Public Transport Operators (PTOs) for failing to comply with the provisions of Section 5(1) of the National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of PSV Regulations) 2014.”
Matatus remain the backbone of Kenya’s transport system, particularly in Nairobi, where eight out of ten residents rely on them daily. The sudden suspension has reignited frustrations, with many questioning the balance between regulatory enforcement and ensuring uninterrupted public transport services.
The NTSA’s stringent action is reminiscent of past attempts to bring order to the chaotic matatu industry. In 2012, the Traffic Amendment Acts 37 and 38 introduced stiff penalties for reckless driving, overloading, and failure to comply with safety standards. These reforms briefly raised hopes for safer and more organized travel, recalling the efforts of the late Transport Minister John Michuki, whose 2004 crackdown on rogue operators brought temporary order to an industry plagued by dangerous practices.
However, despite previous reforms, the matatu sector has reverted to its old ways. Rogue operators dominate the roads once again, ignoring safety standards, while reports of matatu crews being involved in violent and indecent conduct have stirred public fear. The NTSA’s latest suspension of saccos reflects a renewed effort to clamp down on these lawless elements, but for now, the move has left thousands of Kenyans stranded, awaiting both order and a return to normalcy.
