State censured over matatu crisis that paralysed transport in the city

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU

Furious MPs yesterday slammed the Jubilee administration for watching helplessly as matatu crew blocked key roads in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

The strike paralysed city transport in the morning rush hour and left thousands of commuters stranded.

MPs Millie Mabona (Mbita), Ken Okoth (Kibra) and Francis Waititu (Juja) said they were late for parliamentary proceedings because the matatu crews had blocked major roads in the city causing a huge traffic snarl-up.

“It has taken me two hours to get to the House because some people have blocked the roads. People have put vehicles on the road yet there is a police car right there doing nothing,” said Mabona (pictured).

Mr Okoth claimed that the matatu strike was a plot by the Jubilee government to “frustrate” Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.

“We know it is the Jubilee government, whose agenda to frustrate devolution that is making sure the Inspector General with all the money we have given him in the budget and the powers we have given him has let the matatu thugs stop this city from working today,” said Okoth.

The Kibra MP, who belongs to the same party as the Nairobi governor, labelled the striking crew of the matatus (public minivans) and buses as “thugs”.

 “Inspector General Kimaiyo is not doing his job. Jubilee is frustrating devolution. We need our governor to be supported with the money we pay in our taxes,” said Okoth.

Okoth was angry that Waititu had attributed the strike to the incompetence of the traffic marshals that the city had appointed.

“It caused a lot of us to be late. The blue men in uniform are trying to keep law and order. When the governor of Nairobi says he can control traffic jams, he did not know what it meant, now he knows,” said Waititu.