The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) has called on the government to take back control of the public transport sector.
In a statement issued on Saturday, June 6, the motorists association said that the current informal paratransit system has failed in its core mandate to provide safe, decent, and reliable transport.
The association says the multi-billion-shilling sector has not justified the continued informal control, citing persistent complaints from commuters about reckless driving, excessive noise, explicit content, and general disorder in matatus.
Motorists Push for Govt to Reclaim Public Transport Amid Safety Concerns
According to the motorists’ lobby, passengers continue to endure unsafe and uncomfortable travel conditions, raising concerns about road discipline and the quality of public transport services.
“Public Transport should return to the government. The subsector has failed in the cardinal role of decent, safe public transport,” stated MAK.
“The current informal paratransit system has failed to justify continued control of a multi-billion-shilling public transport sector. Commuters and travellers continue to endure dangerous driving, deafening music, explicit content, reckless conduct and general disorder.”
Also Read: Transporters Call Out Govt Over Cover-Up as Fuel Shortage Escalates
The association argues that the situation reflects a broader failure in regulation and oversight, and is now calling for a structured system under government control to restore order, safety, and professionalism in the sector.
Currently, the private sector controls between 90 and 95 percent of the country’s road-based public transport, leaving the government with less than a 5 per cent direct operational stake.
Private operators, largely organized under Savings and Cooperative Societies (SACCOs), independently determine routes, fares, and schedules with minimal government involvement.
The government’s role has largely been limited to regulation and infrastructure provision, with a modest operational presence through Kenya Railways and pilot Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects spearheaded by the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.
Also Read: Inside Kigali’s New Bus Lanes: How the System Works and Why It’s Transforming Public Transport
Reckless Driving
This comes after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) summoned officials of Risen Sacco and Royal Swift Express Limited following two separate road traffic crashes along Enterprise Road and the Nairobi-Namanga Highway that left several people dead and others injured.
According to eyewitness accounts, a customized matatu, popularly known as a Nganya, was allegedly performing dangerous stunts when the driver lost control.
The vehicle overturned along the busy road, trapping several passengers inside the wreckage before emergency responders and members of the public stepped in to assist.
Images from the scene showed the extensively damaged matatu lying on its side as rescue operations continued.
Earlier in March, a Kiwaliru SACCO matatu lost control on the Ruaka-Githogoro Highway and rammed into a billboard.
