A matatu operator has made a U-turn on the cashless payment of fares following passenger flight to rival companies.
MOA Compliant had on Tuesday stopped accepting cash
as it embraced the cashless system ahead of the July 1 deadline set by
the Transport ministry for all public service operators.
But the firm, which operates on Jogoo Road,
Eastleigh and Ngong Road in Nairobi, has opened a window for commuters
to use both cash and cards for fare.
“We made losses on Tuesday as customers without
the cards opted to use other matatus,” said a supervisor at MOA who
sought anonymity.
“We now accept cash payments which run parallel to
the cards. We resorted to move early so that by the time the
government’s deadline comes our commuters are ready.”
The reversal offers insight on commuters’
reception to the digital fare payment plan, which is part of a wider
strategy by the government to streamline the chaotic matatu industry.
The system, among other things, is meant to curb
erratic increases of fares based on weather patterns, traffic flow and
other considerations and enable the Kenya Revenue Authority to collect
taxes from the industry.
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