It has been a menace for the matatu industry to thrive in the city, there must be proper licensing, protecting stations and routes of operations, Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Tim Wanyonyi has said.
The Westlands Member of Parliament said for successful decongestion of the City, all stakeholders must be involved in the decision-making process.
Speaking at his campaign secretariat when he met hundreds of Nairobi Matatu stakeholders on Thursday, March 24, Mr. Wanyonyi said that transport is a shared business that should be managed by the government and the private sector.
“Decongesting the City is not removing those who are already there and introducing new sector. We just have to define what it is that we want to do, how we will operate, where will you go? Just improve on efficiency,” he said.
While airing their grievances, the representatives who were drawn from over 32 Matatu Saccos, complained over police harassment and mistreatment.
They requested the MP to ensure that the matatu operators, owners, and customers are cushioned from the excesses of the police and county askaris for ease of doing business.
According to Mr. Maurice Obambo, Secretary-General of Killeton Sacco, the law should not be used to discriminate against motorists.
“We do not want to have a law for the poor and the rich. When we have the law, it should be for everybody. If a rich person is arrested, he must be treated by the same law as the poor,” Mr. Wanyonyi, who is an advocate of the High Court said as he responded to Obambo.
The stakeholders expressed their confidence in Mr Wanyonyi and tasked him to ensure that the sector becomes profitable, dignified, and orderly and endorsed his bid for Nairobi governor.
Mr. Wanyonyi pledged to provide proper sanitation, water, and essential facilities for the city matatu operators.
He pledged to come up with reasonable credit facilities that would encourage matatu industry employees to have vehicles of their own by the time he leaves office.
“I am looking forward to continuing this conversation as I visit you all in your various places of work and if I do not fulfill my promises at the end of the first five years, do not re-elect me,” he said.
This statement is perhaps his biggest show of commitment to working for the people of Nairobi County.
Mr. Wanyonyi boasts of a good developmental record in his two-year term as Westlands MP having been recognized for two consecutive years.
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