Minister may reverse rule on 14-seater matatus

National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director-General Francis Meja during an interview at at his office in Nairobi on July 10, 2014. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU  

In Summary

• The rules announced in 2010 caused a severe decline in the number of 14-seaters with statistics showing that only 78 such vehicles were registered in 2012.
• He said people are still buying the 14-seater vehicles expecting to do matatu business since the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has continued to register them.

By MUCHEMI WACHIRA
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The return of the 14-seater PSVs is in the offing with the government indicating it will relax rules prohibiting the issuing of licences for matatus operating in urban areas.

 

The rules announced in 2010 caused a severe decline in the number of 14-seaters with statistics showing that only 78 such vehicles were registered in 2012. However in 2013, 235 were registered according to the 2014 Economic Survey.

On Thursday, National Transport and Safety Authority Director-General Francis Meja told Sunday Nation that they have made a proposal to Transport et Secretary Michael Kamau to see whether the window could be reopened.

“We are now waiting for a policy guideline from him (Cabinet Secretary),” Mr Meja said in a telephone interview.

This follows appeals by several matatu Saccos to review the ban.

According to Matatu Welfare Association chairman Dixon Mbugua, hundreds of new 14-seater matatus are lying idle after their respective saccos failed to secure the road service licence (RSL).

“After failing to get the RSL from the authority, these matatus cannot do business. And since some of them were bought using credit from financial institutions, they are being impounded for the loans to be recovered,” said Mr Mbugua.

REGISTRATION STILL IN PROGRESS

He said people are still buying the 14-seater vehicles expecting to do matatu business since the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has continued to register them.

Mr Meja defended KRA, saying they have to register the 14-seaters since not all of them are intended for the matatu business. He advised those wanting to enter the matatu business to stop buying the 14-seaters, saying the decision to phase them out cannot be rescinded.