Matatu saccos whose members fake parking receipts will be banned from the city, the county government said on Thursday. County secretary Robert Ayisi told the media yesterday they will crack down on public service vehicles.
More than 30 matatus and taxis were impounded on Wednesday after their managements presented fake banking receipts as payment for seasonal parking. They are registered under Embassava, Kilgoris, Killeton and Trans-safaris saccos.
County head of parking services Tom Tinega said, “We went to the bank and realised there was no money. They had presented fake banking slips. We had to clamp the vehicles until they pay.” He said enforcement has been a problem and Sh20 million is lost every month.
Ayisi said, “We will impose a ban on the entire sacco in the event that even one matatu is found with fake receipts. This will serve as a lesson to others who are doing the same.”
Taxis and 14-seater matatus pay Sh5,000 for the seasonal ticket every month while those with a higher capacity pay Sh7,250 per month. Transport executive Mohamed Abdullahi said there are 30,000 matatus in the city, 17,000 of which are licensed to drop and pick passengers in the CBD.
Meanwhile, residents have been warned of fraudsters posing as county officers. This comes a day after five people, among them three former employees of the defunct City Council, were arrested for impersonating county officers. Ayisi said the county has initiated reforms and provided inspectorate officers with new uniforms and biometric IDs.
In July, county detectives arrested five people, among them an employee in the Lands and Planning department, a student and a former staffer, for faking county documents. They were believed to be part of a cartel that issues fake occupational certificates, payment receipts, building approvals and public health certificates.