The Covid-19 pandemic has continued to spread rapidly across the globe, disrupting normal activities, ruining economies and livelihoods and in extreme cases, claiming lives.
With limited resources and insufficient beds in intensive care units, many African governments are looking to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as much as possible and Kenya has not been left behind too.
Like the famous analogy of falling dominos, everyone has a role to play in this unprecedented global war. Transport operators too, have a key role to play to prevent the spread of the infection.
The recent lifting of matatu’s 60 per cent carrying capacity rule by the Ministry of Transport is ill-advised and could soon be a weak link in the fight against the coronavirus.
As some of us may be well aware, overcrowding has always been rampant in public transport. Traffic congestion is substantial, and even motorised modes do not move swiftly through urban centres at peak hours.
According to a research by Salon and Gulyani, 2019 commuters in congested matatus and buses may be easily exposed to risk of infection in case one of the commuters has the virus.
Thus, there is a dire need by the government to work closely with various stakeholders in the transport sector in ensuring that those found flouting the Ministry of Health protocols are exposed and are severely punished.
With the country not in a lockdown, Kenyans continue to go to work as many people have jobs that cannot be done from home. For some, a day without work would mean a day without food and it is by this that I urge the ministry of transport to think conscientiously and weigh up its decision.
In conclusion, it should be emphasised that we are not out of the woods yet and everyone has a role to play in the fight against Covid-19.
Public transport operators should adhere strictly to containment measures introduced by the government. If this is effectively done, it may be possible to win the battle against the deadly virus.
Policy makers, planners and researchers should come up with innovative ways to cushion the public transport sector against the risk of collapsing due to reduced patronage.
Dennis Karuri, Kiambu
