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High Court rules against matatus bearing graffiti.[File Standard]
Last week, President William Ruto announced measures aimed at calming tension in the transport industry. On Monday and Tuesday last week, matatu and truck operators went on a nationwide strike to protest the exponential rise in fuel prices announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Had Ruto not intervened, the strike would have continued despite EPRA having lowered the price of diesel by Sh10. Ruto’s promise of a further Sh10 reduction during the June–July pricing cycle calmed industry players enough for them to call off the strike.
Other measures the President announced included directing the Ministry of Transport to engage financial institutions to explore temporary relief on lending terms for transport operators, ordering a review of the Insurance Act and the Auctioneers Act within three months, and directing the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to develop regulations governing minimum fares for digital taxi platforms to resolve disputes in the ride-hailing industry.
