The National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) through Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa, tabled a bill in Parliament on October 4, 2023, seeking to regulate fares in Public Service Vehicles.
The Amendment Bill introduces a new section that provides for the development of policy guidelines to regulate the fares payable by passengers in the country’s public service vehicles.
If the bill is approved by parliament, Public Service Vehicle (PSV) owners will not be allowed to hike bus fares anytime they deem fit.
According to the bill, the Transport Cabinet Secretary may in consultation with NTSA make regulations prescribing the maximum and minimum fares payable by the passengers and the mechanisms of reviewing fares in the public service motor vehicles.
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As such, the cabinet secretary will have powers to create measures ensuring fares imposed are fair and reasonable thus, offering protection to passengers against fare hikes.
Timetables and Fare Tables
Notably, the Amendment Bill, 2023 underwent the first reading in the National Assembly on October 4, 2023.
If the Bill is approved by the National Assembly, Public service vehicles will be required to retain copies of timetables and fare tables for passengers and ensure the safety of passengers in public service vehicles.
Furthermore, fare increases for Public Service Vehicles will be a thing of the past if the National Assembly passes the bill to restrict the tariffs paid by passengers.
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Matatu Owners Association (MOA)
This comes after the Matatu Owners Association (MOA) announced a 40-50 percent rate hike in fares following the increase in fuel prices announced by Energy Regulatory Commision of Kenya (EPRA) on September 15.
According to the association, charges for communities surrounding Nairobi and its capital will rise between Ksh30 and Ksh50 during peak and off-peak hours.
This is not the first time Matatu Owners Association umbrella calls for hike in fare prices.
On July 5, 2023, the organization noted that the fare rates would increase by 10% to 20%.
Albert Karakacha the MOA chairperson ascribed the change to the recent increase in fuel costs caused by the ascension of the Finance Act 2023.
EPRA had evaluated pump pricing to implement the 16% VAT on fuel products.