What Kenyans think of use of NYS buses to ferry passengers

National Youth Service (NYS) Director-General Richard Ndubai on Friday, March 23 announced plans to deploy 27 buses in an attempt to alleviate the commuter crisis in Nairobi occasioned by the ongoing heavy rains.

Mr. Ndubai said the 27 buses will with effect from Thursday, March 22 charge a fixed fee of Ksh 50, later dropped to Ksh 20 regardless of the distance and route. The 27 buses are meant to ply Nairobi routes including Kibera, Githurai, Mwiki, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Dandora, Kariobangi, and Kawangware.

The government has promised that fifty more NYS buses will be introduced on Nairobi roads in the coming two months to cover other routes.

This directive, however, has been condemned by Association of Matatu Operators who said they want a level playing field created. Matatu Owners Association chair Simon Kimutai and Matatu Welfare Association chairman Dickson Mbugua also said the idea is a move to frustrate the matatu industry.

Association of Matatu Operators in Nairobi Central Business District Chairman Jimal Ibrahim said it is not fair for the government to expect matatus to charge less as they pay levies.

Describing the project as one set for a total failure, Mr. Jimal said the government should have directed the resources in maintaining impassable roads such as in Juja, Mwiki, Komarock and other areas.

Kenyans on social media, however, think the NYS bus idea is a relief to the fare hikes. Here are some of their thoughts;

Nairobi is not owned by Matatu. Kenya has to stop this habit of allowing a few people to hold the whole country at random. Let us not allow service delivery to be auctioned at the wishes it's few greedy goons. — Renson .A. Adoyo (@Coraldunes) March 25, 2018

Matatu operators don't like sanity in the industry because they profit from the insanity and chaos. Public Transport should be run by Govt!— Makelo (@ThisManAura) March 25, 2018

Matatu cartels the way the used to hike fare bila huruma. I’m glad the buses have been introduced. Competition breaks cartels— Mabel Ollimo (@ollimo_mabel) March 25, 2018

Matatu industry is crap and should be scrapped out.— ALI YUSUF (@aliyusufofficer) March 25, 2018

i love the idea of NYS because its comfortable and cheap — Dan Okemwa (@DanOkemwa1) March 26, 2018

That's good, infact the GVT should bring in more vehicles so that hawa watu washike Adabu— Eddy Darula King (@darula_eddy) March 25, 2018

it;s time we bring sanity on public transport , the government in conjunction with county government can train matatu drivers and conductors at the NYS to operate these big buses . discipline is paramount one bus can employ six people running in shifts— joseph musembi (@ungarobo) March 25, 2018

So now they remember there is a process for doing things, how about hiking fares without due process, overlapping, parking in the wrong places......the list can go on ......— James Mbandi (@jimmymbandi) March 25, 2018

Several others agreed with Matatus association;

The same taxes Matatus pay is now being used by the State to unfairly compete with the industry. What is the Government going to think of next? NYS industries? Socialism Failed Years Ago.— World Spa network (@WorldSpaNetwork) March 25, 2018

They've a point
Let the government abolish all the levies and taxes to level the playing field between nys and matatu owners.

Mwananchi will be the greatest beneficiary after all— evans ayabma (@botanvilla) March 26, 2018