City Hall has impounded more than 100 matatus in a crackdown on illegal parking with operators up in arms against Governor Mike Sonko's administration.
Parking services director Tom Tinega said some matatu operators we "extremely careless."
Tinenga said PSV crews park, drop and pick passengers on non-designated areas, causing obstruction that leads to traffic snarl ups.
“We have put the rogue PSV operators on notice. We're not going to allow them to break the law. Some of these individuals are so pathetic in the way they do their work. This is a capital city and order must prevail,” Tinega said.
The operations on rogue PSVs was carried out on Latema street, Moi Avenue, Tom Mboya Street, Gill House area and Munyu Road.
“We have noted with concern that many matatus are parking, dropping and picking passengers at undesignated areas within the CBD. We must bring order by ensuring all the PSV operators observe laws,” Sonko said.
Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai blamed the mess in the CBD on poor policies. Kimutai said decades back, there was order in which Kenya Bus vehicles accessed town and the traffic flow was smooth.
“Scheduled timely buses that worked decades ago are no longer there, which has led to congestion and all ills in the sector. Poor policies allow regulators to issue licenses without determining if there is need for transport services,” Kimutai said.
“In those days, the buses had partnered with City Council. Today, it is free for all and there are no controls in terms of licensing new entrants.”
It is not the first time Sonko is seeking to tame rogue matatus.
A similar effort failed early last year when he attempted to remove matatus from town over what he said was failure to ensure drivers observe traffic laws.
Last week, Sonko warned county officers working in cahoots with rogue PSV operators will be arrested. The officers are accused of soliciting bribes from drivers to allow them to bend the law
“Any county official caught in this syndicate will face the wrath of the law,” Sonko said.
“Let me warn you. If you are part of that cartel, it will not matter whom you know, how well you are connected or how many years you have worked at City Hall. If you are caught in the mix, you will be suspended immediately and charged.”
Sonko said he was determined to restore order in the public transport sector by eradicating congestion in the city centre.
