Ministry unveils tough rules to tame matatu madness

By JACKSON OKOTH

KENYA: All passengers boarding public service vehicles (PSV) will soon be required to be issued tickets or receipts for fare paid.

This will be followed by a cashless fare system that will start later in July next year. Currently, some PSVs use Bebapay cashless payment system.

The new traffic rules published yesterday by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure also locks out individual PSV owners.

They will now be required to either form a company or a transport Sacco, to be given a licence.

vehicle fleet

The new rules require that the corporate body licensed to operate as a PSV must own a minimum of 30 serviceable vehicles.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has also said that all vehicles belonging to a transport Sacco or company involved in an accident be subjected to inspection.

All these measures are contained in a raft of measures under legal notice No 219 dated December 16, 2013 by The National Transport and Safety Authority Act, signed by Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure Michael Kamau. The new rules will require operators to pay their drivers a basic salary at the end of the month. This is opposed to the present arrangement where they get commissions based on the number of trips made.

Fatigued drivers

The move is aimed at rescuing drivers who are overworked, and reducing accidents. Fatigued drivers or careless driving cause most accidents on Kenyan roads.  The new rules come at a time when cases of road accidents are on the increase, especially those involving PSVs. Under the new guidelines, it will be mandatory for operators, either a Sacco or company to employ drivers, inspectors, mechanics and other personnel on permanent terms for each route.

Those operating long distance passenger services will be required to have a fleet management system capable of recording and storing data on speed, location and operations of the vehicle at any one time.

PSVs will also be required to design fare tables showing charges for different times of the day.

This will eliminate the practice where PSV owners hike fares based on weather patterns, traffic flow and other considerations.

While PSV is seen as a lucrative business, it is also one of the avenues where Kenya Revenue Authority is not able to collect tax. This has been aided by perhaps suspected criminal elements in the business.

Strict requirements

Under the new rules, anyone applying for a licence from the transport authority will be required to submit a copy of certificate of registration, list of directors, audited accounts, personal identification number certificate, a tax compliance certificate, as well as other documents stipulated under Cap 486.

A PSV operator must also submit regular reports to the authority on any accidents, passenger complaints, traffic offences committed and all past and present employees of the company.