This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
As the country continues to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the Transport Ministry has issued new guidelines for Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) in Kenya.
According to the new guidelines, PSVs will be allowed to increase the number of passengers onboard, with 14-seater matatus now allowed to carry 10 passengers, including the driver and crew, up from eight.
Similarly, 33-seater matatus will be allowed to carry 18 passengers, including the driver and crew, up from 15, while 51-seater matatus will be allowed to carry 30 passengers, including the driver and crew.
Additionally, boda bodas will only be allowed to carry one pillion passenger, while five-seater cars and cabs will be allowed to carry three passengers, and seven-seater cars will be allowed to carry five passengers.
The new guidelines were issued by Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, and are aimed at easing the burden on commuters who have had to dig deep into their pockets to meet hiked prices since the Covid-19 protocols were put in place in March.
Under the new guidelines, PSVs will be required to establish measures to enforce social distancing, contact tracing, and to manage suspected cases of Covid-19.
“We’ve put in place an inspection and certification process to ensure PSV operators observe the new protocol and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health,” Macharia said.
It is worth noting that the new guidelines come after President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the Ministries of Transport and Health to issue guidelines on the resumption of inter-county travel last week.
Only matatus that have conformed with the government’s protocols on Covid-19 will be allowed to travel into and out of Nairobi and other counties.
With regards to long-distance travellers, bus companies will now have to keep passenger manifests for a minimum period of one month before destroying them.
