- It is set now to be subjected to public participation for Kenyans to submit their views.
- The committee will scrutinize the Bill by inviting the sponsor, stakeholders, technocrats, and external experts pursuant to Article 118 of the Constitution.
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A Bill seeking to regulate the fares charged by public service vehicles has undergone the first reading at the National Assembly.
The Bill which has been at the pre-publication stage is sponsored by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa.
It seeks to introduce a new section to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Act to provide for the development of policy guidelines to regulate the fares payable by passengers.
It will delegate powers to the Transport Cabinet Secretary to determine fares for all public service vehicles in the country.
"The Cabinet Secretary may in consultations with the NTSA make regulations prescribing the maximum and minimum fares payable by the passengers in the public service vehicles within the country and the mechanisms of reviewing fares in the public service motor vehicles," the Bill reads in part.
The new section will ensure that the relevant stakeholders are involved in the process of developing such policy guidelines so as to ensure that there are maximum fares payable by passengers in public vehicles from one point to another to avoid being subjected to abuse.
It will also create measures to ensure that the fares imposed are fair and reasonable, offering protection to passengers against fare hikes.
If the Bill is approved by the National Assembly, all PSVs will be required to retain copies of timetables and fare tables for passengers and to ensure the safety of passengers in public service vehicles.
The Bill has been submitted to the relevant select committee for consideration.
It is set now to be subjected to public participation for Kenyans to submit their views.
The committee will scrutinize the Bill by inviting the sponsor, various stakeholders, technocrats, and external experts pursuant to Article 118 of the Constitution.
It will later submit a report to the House that may contain proposed amendments to the Bill.
Barasa says the proposed amendment to the law will protect Kenyans who have continued to bear the brunt of increased fares from operators.
Fares have for long been hiked on insubstantial reasons such as changes in weather, heavy traffic, crackdowns on unroadworthy vehicles, and the opening of schools, forcing commuters to spend more than what they had planned.
During the holiday seasons, matatu crews take advantage of the many passengers and few vehicles to set their fares.
Matatu Owners Association has over the years insisted that one cannot keep down fares if the prices of things like tyres, spare parts, and fuel shoot.
The association has also argued that the matatu business is a private enterprise and that Kenya is a free market.
But matatu owners have shown some little support for fare regulation saying conductors hike charges without their knowledge and pocket the additional collection.